(no subject)

[bipolar-uriel.livejournal.com]

Date: March 17, 2000 -- night
Setting: A corridor in the Manor
Status: Private (Uriel, Pestilence, Mictain) -- Complete
Summary: A demon is nasty, an angel is upset, and a horseman is protective.


Of course, it was definitely not wise. anybody could come across them; the corridor was a public place after all. However, it was the middle of night, and even though many of the Manor's inhabitants didn't technically need to sleep, almost all of them still did so. The risk of anybody finding them was very low, Uriel reasoned to himself.

That, and he didn't want to stop for long enough to reach either of their rooms.

Even if it wasn't secure, he couldn't help himself. Nobody was perfect, and thus even he had his weaknesses, and Pestilence was quickly finding out each and every one of them. Sure, there were things like his depression and mood swings, but those were irrelevant right now. What really mattered now were his physical weaknesses, previously unknown even to himself but now most eagerly explored by Pestilence.

Thus he was standing there, in a shadowed corner but still a public place, lightly pushed against the wall by a very insistent horseman, their mouths locked together while their hands wandered around, exploring, examining, tracing every line and curve. It was like they were trying to memorize each other's bodies, and they could just as well have, both going about their task with dedication usually saved for exact scientific studies alone. They both knew scientific studies very well, too, even though Pestilence's experiences in such matters were almost exclusively from the area of medicine while Uriel's were more based on his curiosity as to how humans got their knowledge than hands-on experience.

Pestilence tasted of sugar, like Uriel had often come to notice. ...Well, at least his mouth tasted of sugar.

He was so concentrated on his little study of personification physiology that he didn't even notice the approaching aura.

Comments

[demon-mictain.livejournal.com]

"Not Pride," Mictain said quietly, "just Love. Love is not a sin in itself, but if you make God jealous by loving somebody else..." He left the end of the sentence hanging in the air.

"Perhaps you don't give a fuck if Raphael knows about you two," he said then, "but Uriel most probably does. He's lonely enough as it is even without you chasing the other angels away from him. If you actually cared about Uriel, like you obviously claim to, you would want him to be helped. If there is a way to heal him of his problems, the one who has most -- or any -- chance at accomplishing that is Raphael. Do you really think Raphael would help your little angel if he knew about your relationship? He despises you and everything and everybody associated with you. As you don't care what he thinks, you hardly care as much about Uriel as you claim to."

Raising his hand so that Pestilence definitely saw it, he flexed his fingers, the claws flashing in the dim light of the corridor. "You? Break my face? Hardly," he snorted. "Although if you really want to die for your little whore... That can be arranged." With a cruel smirk he took a step closer to the horseman, looming threateningly over the shorter* being.

---

Like Uriel, Pestilence was hardly short. However, many of the beings in the Manor were taller than average, and Mictain was well taller than even the Manor average.

[stds-r-4-lovers.livejournal.com]

Pestilence's eyes widened, but he stood his ground. But only partially because he was frozen to the spot with fear.

Imagine the scene, dear reader. Here is this newly fanged demon, former leader of the Host, standing against an elderly albino man, and the demon is about to beat the shit out of him. Any wise person in the albino's position would run as fast as their skinny legs would take them.

But wise men never fall in love.

"My wellbeing is nothing compared to Uriel's honor," (A part of the horseman's mind screamed 'did you just spout that chivalric bullshit outloud?' but the other part of his mind believed it fully. even so, he wasn't going to run massacre himself if he didn't have to... "I just hate to think of you showing up to your precious healer's door with a bruise."

[bipolar-uriel.livejournal.com]

Now, Uriel could no more simply stand back and watch. He had to step in before Pestilence got hurt. And Mictain would hurt him, too, hurt him very badly indeed.There was no telling whether Adam would get to the place in time. He hadn't for Aziraphale, after all, and even the Antichrist must need sleep every now and then.

Thus Uriel was already preparing to attack. Of course, even if he hadn't been too afraid of Mictain to act sensibly he wouldn't have been any match for him physically; however, his halo should be more than enough to stun Mictain.

The demon bared his claws and spoke, and even thogh he couldn't hear the exact words said, the intention was made quite clear by the flashing claws. Still, the demon made no other move to attack, so Uriel didn't want to do anything, either -- anything but clear self-defence, or defence of his -- lover? Boyfriend? Partner? What exactly was Pestilence to him? -- would be quite hard to reasong to Adam. Therefore, he wasn't taking any chances even while there was a clear threat of violence.

Pestilence spoke some more, then stopped, and suddenly Mictain prepared to strike. Uriel was about to stun him in a half-panicked state when he heard something.

It was like a wave crashing against the strand. From every shadowy corner rats came, running one after another, their common destination quite clear. None of them seemed to pay any attention to him other than running around his feet instead of all over him. The same they did to Pestilence -- but not to Mictain.

Rats can bite pretty hard if need be. When there are about a hundred of them, it hurts. Uriel actually heard Mictain's swearing even without having to concentrate on hearing it. Then the demon stormed off, practically tearing rats from his body. Well, for the moment he was tearing them away. As soon as he was about seven feet from Pestilence, the rats all suddenly dropped off him, gathering around Pestilence, watching the demon intently. After a moment Uriel realized that a similar swarm of furry guards was standing at his own feet.

Mictain glared at Pestilence for a few seconds. Then he turned around and left.

Huge relief filled Uriel when he could see Mictain's back disappearing behind another corner. Then he forgot both his relief and fear as worry for Pestilence filled his mind. Immediately he hurried to the horseman, the rats following by his feet.

"Pestilence!" he exclaimed, flinging his arms around the horseman's neck. "Are you alright? Did he hurt you? Oh, I'm so sorry for leaving, I shouldn't have..."

[stds-r-4-lovers.livejournal.com]

Everything happened so fast. One minute he was about to be pulverised by Mictain, the next the demon was beating a hasty retreat, pulling angry rats from various parts of his anatomy.

All Pestilence could do was stand there for a minute, trying to take in what had just happened and realize that he had managed to escape being a horse-person colored smear on the rug. Then he was suddenly being squeezed by Uriel and the trance broke. He brought the angel into a tight embrace, clinging to the angelfor all he was worth. He tried to cover the way his knees were knocking together in left-over tension but it was easier said than done, so instead he leaned heavily against the wall, bringing Uriel down with him, placing hasty kisses on the angel's face. They were both alive and he had defended... his? Yes *his* angel.

Between pecks he managed to speak. "Yes... yes... I'm... Fine. Are you?" He held Uriel at arm's length, trying to judge if there had been any damage on the angel from the exchange. That big fucking oaf Mictain had some some terrible things, and he wanted to make sure that Uriel didn't beleive any of it. He also remembered some of the things he had said, and how they were hardly the things he would like Uriel to have heard come from him. "Uriel, don't apologize for leaving. I wanted you to be safe, and... I just wish you hadn't had to witness all that." He pulled Uriel back to him and buried his head in the angel's shoulder. "Please, Uriel, tell me you're alright."

[bipolar-uriel.livejournal.com]

Uriel found himself being drawn to Pestilence, tiny kisses raining all over his face. It took him a moment to fully understand the horseman's words, his mind being too overwhelmed by his relief and left-over fear.

"I'm fine," he whispered, then repeated almost as if to convince himself, "I'm fine. I'm just... a bit upset at what he said. I thought -- I really thought you were going to get hurt. Badly hurt. And I don't want you to be harmed, Pestilence. Especially not because of me." All the time he clung to Pestilence as if afraid he would fade away. "We're both alright," he then murmured, "everything will be just fine..."

However, he was still slightly shaking.

[stds-r-4-lovers.livejournal.com]

Pestilence pulled Uriel closer, stroking the angel's arms and back to calm his shaking. He didn't entirely buy that Uriel was alright, so he decided they should talk about it. They were closer to Uriel's room, so he decided there would be the best place to talk.

"Come on, Uriel, let get out of the hallway." He wrapped an arm around Uriel's shoulders but didn't start off right away. There was one matter to be taken care of before they left.

Most of the rats had dispersed to their respective holes and larders, but a few still stood around, Mr. S. still close to Pestilence's right foot. The horseman bent down and held out his hand which Mr. Sniffles then crawled up onto.

"You really got us out of a pinch, Mr. S," Pestilence smiled at his little ratty friend, and Mr. Sniffles, for his own part, looked just about as proud as a rat can look. "Thank you buddy." A little rat paw covered a whiskery nose in a way that said 'aw, shucks,' and underneath sleek brown fur, a little rosy hue spread over rodent cheeks. After a minute and a few more words of gratitude, Pestilence set Mr. Sniffles back down. "See you at home later, Mr. S," he said as the rat scurried away and Pestilence and Uriel made their way down to the ange's room.

[bipolar-uriel.livejournal.com]

Uriel watched silently as Pestilence thanked his rat. Yes, Mr. Sniffles was a most extraordinary little being indeed. Mrs. Sniffles and the baby rats were also adorable, like he had come to notice. Now, however, he made a mental note to give Mr. S an extra bag of marshmallows when he next met him.

He was more than grateful to get out of the hallway; even though it was unlikely anybody else would come, it was possible, and he really didn't want to face anybody right now. Like everytime he entered his room nowadays, the first thing he did upon entering was to take a glance at his own little friend. The wren was apparently fast asleep in his cage, but at their arrival he opened his eyes briefly and chirped sleepily in greeting before resuming his sleep. With a shaky smile to the bird's direction, he led Pestilence further into the room, sitting down on his bed and drawing Pestilence down next to him. Clutching on Pestilence's arm, he entwined his fingers with those of the horseman, squeezing tightly as if to reassure himself that yes, Pestilence was indeed there, more or less whole even after his meeting with Mictain.

[stds-r-4-lovers.livejournal.com]

The horseman smiled a little, finding some relief in the fact that Uriel's little bird was doing alright. Yet his brief moment or respite from worry was quickly replaced by fear when Uriel seemed so distressed when they had both been settled on the bed. He pulled Uriel to lean against him, smoothing his black locks, gratitude replacing his initial worry. They had made it through the first real external threat to their association in one piece, and Pestilence couldn't help but breath a sigh of relief. He kissed the top of Uriel's head. To try to spread his relief to his(!) angel he tried to crack a joke.

"How could you ever have been friends with such a lumphead?" While Uriel didn't laugh, there was a slight release in his spine, allowing him to lean more fully against the horseman.

"No offense to the speicies, but I think you are by far my favorite angel," He continued, turning Uriel's pale face to him. "In fact, I'm quite... fond of you," He shook his head. Surely it shouldn't be this difficult. "No, what I mean is: Uriel, this past month has been the happiest in my existance. I wake up thinking about you, and it makes getting out of bed worth it. Whenever you're beside me I feel lighter. The thought of not being with you makes me feel like dying, the thought of any harm coming to you is more distrubing to me than my own safety," Pestilence again paused, looking deeply into Uriel's green eyes. "I'm no expert on emotions, Uriel, but I think I'm..." his voice lowered as he drew Uriel's lips towards his. "I think I'm in love with you."

[bipolar-uriel.livejournal.com]

Uriel didn't say anything as Pestilence spoke, simply listening. Oh, but he had never been friends with Mictain, had he? The one who had been his friend had been Michael. And, like he had come to notice, those two were entirely different people.

Then, however, Pestilence made his confession. For a moment the only thing he could do was simply stare at the horseman, his eyes wide. Then, however, he did the only thing he could think of doing -- only partly to get himself more time to think up a response -- and kissed Pestilence.

It was just like their usual kisses, and then it was not. There was still relief mixed there, relief that they both had made it out of trouble somewhat whole and unharmed, that they were together and nothing Mictain had said could change it. Something else was also there; something that had always been there, in some form or another, but it wasn't until now that either of them was really admitting it was there, or at least trying to aloud give a name to the feeling.

Uriel thought about his feelings for Pestilence, all the things he could name and all those he could not. Suddenly, however, it all made sense. He could indeed give a name to his feelngs, one that he was still slightly unsure about but wanted to say aloud, confident that it was indeed right.

"Pestilence," he said as he finally broke off the kiss, "the past month has been the happiest one to me as well. Of course I do not wake up, but I think about you, all the time, and the thought of you makes me want to go on regardless of the difficulties in my existence. I'm still unbalanced, but I don't worry about it as much as before, knowing that you'll stay beside me regardless. Should you look at my recent art you would find quite a lot of rats and light-coloured men."

He smiled a bit, faintly, trying to buy a couple of seconds more to turn his feelings into words. "I can no more imagine my existence without you. Or, rather, even if I could, I don't want to. If I lost you now it would kill me more surely than any demonic weapon or hellfire. I can't stand the thought of you getting hurt, since your wellbeing is more important to me than my own. If Mictain had done any harm to you, I would have done my best to hurt him, Adam or no Adam."

He bit his lip momentarily, his eyes searching for the pale ones of Pestilence. "I've had this feeling for a long time already, but never before have I been able to -- or even dared to -- place a name to it. Nevertheless, I am truly glad that you love me... since I think I am in love with you, too."

[stds-r-4-lovers.livejournal.com]

At first Pestilence was confused. At his confession, Uriel had a look on him that looked vaguely like a deer caught in the headlights. Pestilence could have died. There was nothing quite so awful as the absence of an "I love You" return. When Uriel kissed him his fears were only partially assuaged. yes, they were kissing, but the angel hadn't said anything back. Pestilence fully wished to disappear into the woodwork at that point. What if his feelings weren't returned? He couldn't really see Uriel as jsut using him for sex... that didn't make sense, but perhaps Uriel had jsut been trying to please him. Bipolar personalities often did that; instead of externalizing their emotions they would internalize and just be whomever the person they were with wanted them to be.

Then Uriel's words reached his ears, and slowly the horseman realized where Uriel was going. The last sentence made Pestilence nearly burst out singing. Instead he used his mouth to kiss Uriel passionately.

No matter what happened, he was in love with Uriel and Uriel was in love with him, and nothing would make that change. Even if the whole world was against them, they would have each other.