+MAIN+ PROFILE+ STORY+ ALBUM+ HUNTED+ ANGEL+ SHOPPE+ LINKS+
Story
+ Angel Hunt ~ Lazurnoe +
Chapter Eight : 04
“Well it wasn’t some kind o’ weird coincidence if that’s what ya mean…” the Demon smiles carefully, unsure quite how to begin. “… I mean I didn’t know ya were in trouble, I wish I did, it might o’ saved me some time mopin’ around and made me realise how stupid I was bein’ from the start.” He sighs, turning back to pick up their drinks before heading towards the disheveled bed.
This was bound to happen sooner or later. The tall Demon holds no delusions about that, but in truth he was kind of hoping Fanuel would suffer some mysterious memory loss from his wounds and forget about everything that had happened between them in the past few days. He chuckles quietly to himself… yeah, fat chance of that.
Lowering himself down on the edge of the bed the fiery eyed man sets his glass down on the bedside table and holds the other out to the injured Higher whose eyebrow is already arched in puzzlement over his sudden unexplained laughter. “Ah… As I said last night, I realized that you were what I truly wanted, but that was only one part of the problem.” An awkward smile creeps across his lips. “Once I’d decided to just throw myself at your mercy, I still needed to work out how in the hell ta even do that… So…” he clears his throat. “I managed to convince Ma to take me to that lil’ demigod in heels she suddenly seems so fond of. I figured she wouldn’t have let ya get far… an’ well… once we got there… I guess ya know the rest.” He sighs, his words trailing off as he plucks up his glass and takes a long gulp of the dark liquid.
Pulling his own glass up to full lips, the Angel smirks against the cool crystal. “Yeah… I know the rest...” Carefully, he takes a slow sip of the deep amber liquid, the wince of pain that crosses his features from the movement gone a moment after it forms as the spirits heat a soothing path down his throat. With a sigh, Fanuel slides the glass down and allows it to settle in his lap, his head set again against the carved surface behind him and his eyes slipping closed. He supposes the explanation for Cade making his way there is sound enough, though the fact that it seems his damn mother and that near god bitch has something going on bothers him on a completely different level. But… fuck, whatever. That isn’t exactly something he wants to have his thoughts linger on, in any capacity or for any length of time.
“You know… I went to go see him once I got back home…” The Higher starts quietly without reopening his eyes, drawing his Demon’s sunset colored gaze over to his toned frame, each line and curve of bruise tainted pale skin highlighted by the slips of early morning sunlight peaking in through the cracks in the heavy crimson curtains that frame his bed. “After what you did in that hotel and all the bullshit that followed it, I went straight to that Filth’s home the moment I could just to see my brother again…” his single sided gaze slides open and narrows, his teeth gritting in clear distaste. “Even though that bastard’s made it so I can’t get inside or even get close to him, all I’ve ever had to do is spend some time somewhere outside, watching Fuan be himself. I don’t even get to talk to him and yet somehow, the world seems right for the two fucking seconds I’m there. It’s as if he has this magical ability to make every damn problem I have melt away just by being alive…”
Fanuel sighs, his gaze so locked on the heavy enshrouding curtains that he fails to notice the strong hands wrapping half filled crystal grip the glass just a little tighter. “This time though… I must have been there for over an hour, just watching him walk around, watching the wind tugging at his hair, watching the way he moves, watching him smile… taking every fucking comfort that I’ve ever taken from him in the past and yet those feelings… they just weren’t there. Nothing seemed okay while I watched him, nothing seemed right and no matter how fucking hard I tried to keep my mind on him or grasp onto what used to be, I just couldn’t.” Frowning, tapered fingers slide up to rake layered snowy strands back away from scarred features in a movement that causes him to wince, but he continues without pause.
“A couple of thousand years ago, my brother lost his damned life over some throw back freak of nature Demon. He tore the both of us apart for that Filth and you’d think that after everything that happened during our trial, after watching him get his sorry ass ripped into a bloody pulp as punishment and then having mine handed to me directly after, that I’d know better. Yet here I am, in practically the same mess and just as fucking lost to it. All because of you and your god damn charms.” The Angel shakes his head and allows it to thud against the headboard once more, his hand slipping back down to his glass and his voice falling into a near whisper. “The fuck have you done to me Cade…?”
The Demon opens his mouth to speak but instead he finds himself simply grinning like some kind of idiot, his full lips curling into an almost giddy little smirk. Chuckling softly his sunset eyes meet the Angel’s white, and without a word he drains the rest of his glass and slides forward on the smooth sheets. It isn’t just the Higher’s words that have gotten to him, sweet as they are, in his own way. It’s the fact that he’s willing to admit all this, without provocation, without being led, for the first time since it happened, he almost completely forgets about their little incident.
“… and just what are you staring at Demon?” Fanuel smiles back despite himself, raising one knee as he leans a little more weight against the headboard.
Cade chuckles again. “Oh, I think ya know Angel… what I’m starin’ at… and what I’ve done.” He smiles back, and leaning forward he places one hand across the Higher’s toned body, pulling himself closer to the Angel’s smirking lips. As he dips in the necklace he wears swings down as well, hanging loosely from his neck and softly falling against the Angel’s bared chest, making him gasp just a little as the cool sensation meets his warm skin.
“I do, you asshole… I do.” Fanuel smirks even as Cade is tilting his head in, now close enough for each word spoken to brush full lips gently against the other’s own. “And that’s the entire fucking problem right there…” They both know exactly what’s been done, he’s sure. The truth is that he can no longer deny it and he can’t lie to himself about it anymore either.
Cade has his heart, plain and simple, and while it doesn’t change what transpired at the hotel or what followed directly after, the Demon… his Demon, has managed to root himself too deeply inside for him to even be able to pretend it’s now any other way.
The taller man’s smile widens in response to his Angel’s words as he dips further in to close the minimal space that separates them and complete a sweet, alcohol tinted kiss. With careful ease Cade draws himself even nearer as their kiss continues to deepen, his hand sliding over toned muscle and setting against the rich, dark wood behind the Angel’s bruised body to support himself.
“Don’t think for a moment that this changes anything…” the Higher starts quietly when air finally forces them apart, the Demon pulling back only a little and sunset colored eyes again locking with single sided snow. “You still owe me Cade, for all the bullshit that put me in this damn position to begin with, and as soon as I pull my ass back together I fully intend to collect.” Smirking, tapered fingers slip up in-between them to touch at the small knot work charm the other man wears, tracing the intricate woven lines for a long moment.
Chuckling to himself Cade smiles back, letting the Higher’s fingers explore the charm hanging around his neck, just as his own fingers have explored it countless times before. “I don’t doubt it snowflake.” He grins and leans back as the Angel’s fingers slip away and back down to his glass.
“The hell is that anyway? ” he inquires as he pulls his glass up to his lips, the pain streaking across his features from the movement brief as he empties the last of the dark liquid. Up until this point he hadn’t seen Cade wear any type of jewelry, and the fact that he is now has him a little more curious than he’d like. In truth it reminds him a little of the charm Kess gave him that he tossed shortly after he and the Demon met. The thought soon brings the softest of frowns to his lips.
“Oh…” The fiery eyed man looks down as if only just remembering what the necklace is as well. With an absent minded touch he runs his fingertips across the smooth metal charm, as he has done so many times before without even considering what it really means. “… this?” he asks quietly, and as his deep sunset gaze slides up to take in the Angel’s subtle frown he lets the silver knot slide slowly between his thumb and forefinger. “This I was given many, many years ago… by a man who wanted me ta know what I meant to him… at least that’s the way I always saw it… he never was too good at sayin’ those things out loud.”
The Angel’s frown only deepens, if Cade wanted to kill the mood he’s certainly succeeded, not only keeping something close that his past lover had given him, but wearing it in bed with him now. He’s starting to wonder whether he was too far hasty in forgiving the man’s mistakes.
Seeing Fanuel’s scarred face curl into a look of disgust the Demon realizes what he’s just said and almost breaks into laughter, grasping the charm again and covering it with his palm as if to hide the mistaken conclusion from his lover. “No no no…” Cade chuckles, shaking his head as he sighs and begins to unfasten the leather strap he wears it on from around his neck. “… My Da gave this to me… my father…” he clears his throat. “… I guess he thought it’d protect me, remind me of all that I was… an’ ya know… that kinda thing. Truth is I never asked, me an’ him… well, we never got along as well as we might’ve. Pride I guess, on both counts.” He sighs once more, finally unfastening the knot and pulling the silver charm from around his throat, holding it up for his own eyes to see. “… but I’ve had it now about as long as I can remember, an’ it’s become somethin’ special to me, so I like ta keep it safe. I guess… comin’ ta see you again… I needed all the help I could get.”
“Isn’t that the fucking truth...” Fanuel smirks.
The Demon smiles warmly, the small trinket catching the light and glistening slightly as it twirls from the thong of black leather wrapped between his fingers as white eyes look on. The small celtic knot is intricate, and each loop dips back to the center to join the rest, never making and end and remaining as everlasting as the assurance it’s always given him. “Ya know… if I’da known it was this easy ta make ya jealous Fanuel then maybe I woulda worn it earlier.” He teases, and sliding his gaze back to the Angel’s cool white eyes he lowers the tiny charm down into his lover’s palm.
The action surprises even himself, but somehow this feels right, as if he’s finally found a purpose for something which was only ever half fulfilling its destiny. “I… I want ya to have it.” Cade whispers softly.
The Higher’s single sided gaze slides away from the taller man’s features and down to the charm now resting in his hand, taking a long moment of silence to trace the curved connecting lines with his eyes before the smallest of smiles forms on his lips that he doesn’t even realize is there.
The explanation for the pendant puts whatever irritation that sprung up at its mention to rest, leaving him for the first time in a while, almost speechless. The meaning behind the gesture isn’t lost on him as his thumb slips over to run across the smooth shining metal, not for a moment and in truth it means more to him than he’s currently willing to say.
Lifting his gaze to meet sunset colored eyes, he reaches out and drops the pendant back into his lover’s hand so abruptly that it pulls a frown to Cade’s mouth. Grinning slyly at the confused reaction, tapered fingers slide up as he pulls his back away from the heavy wood headboard; he leans forward as he swipes long layered locks across a toned shoulder to expose more of his neck, his head dipping down towards the tall Demon’s muscular chest. “If you’re going to do something, do it right…” he smirks, warm breath washing across scarred skin as he speaks. “I don’t have all damn day.”
The tall Demon’s smirk grows wider, curling into a happy grin as he leans forward and wraps the black cord around Fanuel’s bare neck. As the smooth leather cord slips across the Angel’s skin Cade’s fingertips gently caress his lover’s neck, long fingers reaching around to carefully tie a tight knot.
“It’s about time this thing meant somethin’ certain…” the fiery eyed man smiles, his hands lingering at the back of the Angel’s neck as his forehead remains pressed against the raised skin of his scarred chest. “… Now…” he smiles, letting Fanuel pull away until their eyes meet once more. “… ya’ll always have a part o’ me close by… just as ya still have my heart.” Cade’s deep orange gaze burns deeply into Fanuel’s white, the sweetness of his words matched only by the utter sincerity in his smoldering eyes.
The Higher’s hand rises up as gazes remain locked, the tips of his fingers touching the small silver pendant that now hangs at his neck, running momentarily over the interwoven lines. He’s not sure if he wants to hit Cade for what he’s just said after all that’s happened, or commend him for the depth of the meaning behind the words themselves.
In such a short time, this man has captured a heart he’s only once wanted to give another, ripped it from his chest with stupidity and carelessness and then somehow managed to make it nearly right again. If the Demon were any other man, he’d have cursed himself for his own lapse and then killed him for the slight five ways over. But sitting here locked in so close, seeing with his own eyes that the love being proclaimed is also fully felt, having proof of that love now tethered around his neck… he finds that he just doesn’t have any defense against it.
God damn… never in all of his life would he have thought he’d end up this lost to an emotion he once believed could bring nothing but heartache and pain. How in the hell has the other man, a Demon managed to do this to him?
Sliding his hand away from the knot work pendant, the white haired man reaches over, tapered fingers soon slipping around to the back of Cade’s neck. Pulling his lover down towards him, the Angel tilts his head in, full lips soon brushing against full as he speaks.“You are… one smooth talking bastard… you know that?” The snowy haired man smirks, his teasing words pulling a smile to his darker counterpart’s mouth. With no hesitation, the Demon leans in to close the gap, attempting to take his lover’s lips again.
Suddenly and without warning, Fanuel pushes him back, a sound of surprise escaping full lips as he falls towards the messy bedding below. With a hand planted in the center of his scarred chest, the Angel leans over to stare down into sunset colored orange with single sided white, only a shadow of pain flickering across near perfect features from the movements he makes. “You’re god damn right I still have your heart and I’m going to make sure you never forget it. I told you last night that I’d give you one chance to make this right but don’t think for a second that this-” Reaching up, he touches the silver charm, “-is enough to cut it.”
Smirking as he pulls away, fingertips linger momentarily over the ridges of the scarring beneath his hand before he turns to slide himself free of the bed. With a little difficulty, the Angel stands, his grimace hidden from the other man’s view by his turned back as he pushes the heavy curtains over and begins walking towards his haphazardly deposited belongings left resting across the room, speaking as he goes. “Somehow I get the feeling that if you don’t have a physical reminder of who you belong to shoved in your face constantly you’re going to forget, and we are not going to have any repeats of the shit you pulled in the hotel ever again…”
Cade almost protests, the Angel’s words get right under his skin and it takes a huge effort not to argue as he watches the white haired man walk slowly across the room, the briefest hints of pain in his step. No, what gets to him about Fanuel’s taunt isn’t his words but his own guilt, and if it’s going to take a few humiliating jabs from the other man to right the wrong between them, then that’s just something he’ll have to live with.
“Yeah yeah… I’m an asshole, I get it…” Cade sighs and sliding up from the bed he follows the Higher slowly across the room. “… I don’t know how many times ya want me ta promise. I’m past all that now… but if ya want some kind o’ assurance then sure… I’ll do whate-”
Fanuel bends to reach his discarded bag and a sharp hiss of pain breaks through the Demon’s rambling, the rapid intake of air catching the taller man’s attentions despite the Higher’s grit teeth.
“Whoah…” Cade cries out in alarm, closing the gap between them quickly and wrapping his arms around Fanuel’s bared chest to keep the Higher upright. “… relax snowflake… let me.” He whispers into snowy locks, his warm breath playing against his Angel’s neck and stifling any retort as the pain slowly dulls in the injured man’s side.
“I can manage.” Fanuel grumbles quietly, one hand brought back up to touch the Demon’s face as it presses pleasantly against his neck.
Slipping slowly away Cade bends down to take hold of the large bag, his eyes darting back up to the tall Angel standing above him as a hint of his usual smirk creeps back across his features. “I’m sure ya can Fanuel… but just let me help a’right? I do have some makin’ up ta do…” he chuckles, and sliding back the long zipper he pulls the bag open to present the scattered contents, his eyes flicking back down to take a quick look at the crumpled garments and knickknacks. “… Ya know, ya better not be expectin’ me ta wear one o’ these sexy lil’ shirts, it aint quite my style…” he grins playfully back up at the standing man, holding a white fishnet top gingerly between his fingers.
“Funny” Fanuel smirks and reaching out, he snatches the top from the Demon’s fingers, grimacing in pain from the movement. “Personally, I think you could do with some better styling tips…” he snorts as he straightens with shirt in hand, his free hand brought up to clutch absently at his partially healed side. “…considering the normal crap you wear.” A brief look of indignation crosses the taller man’s features at his jab, lasting only a moment before amused laughter fills the air again. Pulling his sunset gaze away from the Angel’s white, Cade turns his attentions back to the opened bag and begins rummaging through the disheveled contents once again.