1x1 Angel and Demon War

[Paintedsky]

"It's not me I'm worried about, but thanks," Dez said, giving a dry smile. "Somehow I don't get the impression that they're particularly eager to go easy on either of us. Although I think you're right: if they find out the weakness of one of us, they're bound to try and use it to take out the other. Their hate seems to be pretty biracial here." Rubbing at his face, trying to stimulate helpful thoughts of something, Dez tried to recall what had happened with his session. It was all a red blur after the sawing had begun, and he had passed out when the cut had reached his abdomen. Beforehand though... "I think human boy said something about Simon being the one with the controls to the cuffs," Dez said, frowning as he tried to recall what the hell had happened then. Had he- yes, yes of course he had. Oldest interrogation trick in the book, albeit far from the most subtle.

 

[WolfOfProphecys]

Ash looked at him and nodded slightly, "I-I won't tell em.....n-no matter what they d-do" She said, trying to sound confident. The younger of the two just seemed terrified, her previous cold, emotionless barrier gone with a swoop. She looked at him in worry, "W-What'd they do to you?" She asked again, "A-And h-how?" She said, wincing

 

[Paintedsky]

Without meaning to, Dez kind of felt sorry for her. He'd never really met someone quite so stubborn in their values, and witnessing her cold guard be shattered by torture seemed cruel in itself. It was a bittersweet mix of pity, sympathy, and empathy, and not an emotion he'd felt for a long time. He tried to remind himself that he didn't even know this angel, not beyond the confines of a cell, and that she apparently made slaughtering demons her greatest hobby, but that didn't stop the ridiculous sense of protectiveness he suddenly felt for her.


Averting his eyes, scowling at his own stupidity, he tried to get his head back in the game and stop being manipulated by circumstances and her sudden vulnerability. Focus on what happened, he told himself sternly, trying to retain his sanity. Remember what people are actually like. "Oh, you know, creative human things involving a saw and me being upside down, which surprisingly isn't as fun as it sounds." Talking helped calm down the tightness in his chest, the sense of tendering isolation, and so he kept going, his tone becoming increasingly sarcastic. "It was quite fascinating actually what they've come up with over the years. Again, according to human boy I was lucky, Persian kings used to make the vic- the person who was getting sawed in half, they used to make their relatives eat the flesh of the corpse." He gave her the best cheerful grin he could manage, suppressing a wince as a spattering of nerves reignited, and shrugged. "Still, there's been worse. Least I've still got all my limbs. Plus, I didn't have to deal with Simon, and I think we can both agree that's the real torture."

 

[WolfOfProphecys]

Ash looked disgusted, "I-I d-don't get h-how people c-can d-do these t-things to others...." She mumbled, as if forgetting that her occupation involved slaughtering demons. But then she didn't torture them, she was only the assassin sent out to kill the bosses of the demon side, or fight in battles and lead a group, something she never could get a hold of. She preferred to hunt alone, or not at all. She looked over at him, "S-Simon....I t-think he h-has a o-odd i-interest i-in me....." She mumbled, "H-He kept stroking m-my wing" She mumbled in continuance. Wing touching was something usually only done by an angels mate, or by someone who loves her to prove how much they loved each other

 

[Paintedsky]

"Oh god. Types like that taking an interest never ends well," Dez muttered with a slight shiver, his eyes sliding over to examine her wings. "Is it... have you guys got a thing about wings? I don't know, you always seem rather private about them though." He said, trying to recall what he knew about angels, the knowledge blurred from time and the haze of pain caused by the wound. Either way, he was pretty sure that Simon touching her in any form of intimate manner was a bad sign. When people so obsessed with torture developed their version of feelings for a person... he shivered again, pushing down the return of nausea as he tried to focus on her and her response.

 

[WolfOfProphecys]

Ash whimpered, "Touching wings...Its something angel Soul Mates do...." She mumbled, "To touch a angels wings when they're not your SoulMate, or they don't want you too.... in angel law thats punishable...." She continued, "Used to be by death" Ash said softly, barely inaudible. She hadn't found her soulmate yet, but she knew when she did she'd give up with killing and try to settle down, though the idea of having kids frightened her

 

[Paintedsky]

Recognising that Ash's thoughts were drifting to something clearly very personal to her, Dez remained quiet for a moment, letting her have her moment alone, looking instead at his hands as he fiddled with his fingers. "Well, if your people would be kind enough to show up and arrest him for his violation, I'd be extremely grateful." He twisted his nose in disgust, frowning at his hands. "What a creep. I mean, demons don't have anything as pretty as the concept of soul mates but still, the one thing out law system actually takes seriously is-" he paused, not wanting to say the word rape, nor sexual assault. "That sort of thing," he finished. "Difficulty is just proving it." Shaking his head, he focused on what she'd said, for something about the idea of true love, whilst seeming ridiculous to him, was comforting in a moment like that. "How are you supposed to know when you find your soul mate, or however it works?" He asked, admittedly curious, the concept so completely different to any his culture possessed.

 

[WolfOfProphecys]

Ash shook her head, "I don't know. Apparently its like a feeling of warmth and power in your chest when your soul mate touches your wings....But I don't think I'll ever know." She said softly, looking rather worried about what Simon might do to her, "Him though....It just...felt cold." She shivered

 

[Paintedsky]

"I'm going to hazard a wild guess and say Simon's not your soul mate, sweet as he is." With a wry smile and a healthy dose of sarcasm, Dez rested a solemn hand on her shoulder and shook his head mournfully. "I'm afraid he's just too good for you, a sweetheart like that." Rolling his eyes at himself, he withdrew his hand and leant back against the wall, considering the soul mate idea. "It's pretty sweet though. The idea that that could actually be a tangible thing, not just confused feelings, but having some actual confirmation." He shrugged, before breaking into a grin again. "You angels get all the fun things. First wings, now this?"

 

[WolfOfProphecys]

Ash shrugged, "I might not have either for long....without wings I won't be able to tell....." She mumbled, clearly upset. She wondered if Simon was actually planning on cutting them off, or if he'd do something else. She shuddered at the thought, "I-I don't....want to be alone with him again" She sniffled, a tear falling down her cheek

 

[Paintedsky]

"Hey, hey, hey," Dez said quickly in as soft a tone as he could manage, turning in his seat to face her, giving his pain a mental fuck you since he had bigger priorities now. Not possessing a tissue or anything of the sort, he leaned across, slowly so as not to spook her, and then caught the tear with his thumb, brushing it aside. "We won't let him touch your wings, okay? We'll figure something out. And you won't be alone with him again," he said, almost believing the lie. After all, they were clearly both old hands at this, even if the violation of her wings was new territory. Together they ought to be able to think of something, anything that would stop something like that happening to a girl like this.


A girl like this, Dez repeated in a mental mutter, resisting the urge to shake his head at himself. What the hell was up with him recently? Torture didn't normally turn him into this much of a sap, and he thought he'd seen enough crying girls to be immune to their effects. Apparently, he'd been wrong.

 

[WolfOfProphecys]

Ash's eyes met his, the cold and emotionless look having faded some time ago, now replaced with fear and something neither Ash nor anyone could likely place as she watched him, "You can't stop everything Dez" She said softly, lowering her head to face the floor once more. Her cuffed wings would of drooped had they been able to, and the feathers were already greying in a form of depression

 

[Paintedsky]

For pity's sake, Dez seriously needed to get a grip. He'd seen people go through worse. Hell, this was child's play compared to the past century or so, but that apparently made no difference to the odd, consuming desperation that decided to grip him at the moment. "Well excuse you," Dez said, his voice quiet, a mix of humour and the odd, protective sadness he was feeling at that moment. "I think you'll find I can stop whatever I please, thank you very much, and I'm not taking no from an answer. I have not dealt with so much shit only to be unable to prevent it from happening again." He caught her jaw and tilted her chin up, meeting her eyes, trying to convey some sense of legitimate hope and seriousness through the shared gaze. "And nor are you giving up on me. Are we quite clear?"

 

[WolfOfProphecys]

Ash flinched violently as he caught her jaw, and looked up at him, fear, pain, sadness and a mystery feeling in her eyes. She sniffed and nodded, moving both her hands to hug him gently, being careful of his wounds. Whilst they had been talking Ash's arm had fully healed, though it still ached, but at least she had fingers now

 

[Paintedsky]

(OOC: Heh, when I first saw italicised both I just thought you were emphasising how super serious and moving using both hands was, because I'd completely forgotten about the whole amputee thing xD I now feel slightly stupid )


Dez swallowed as she looked back at him, unable to understand all the emotions conveyed by her eyes, but still feeling the affect of them. What he had not been prepared for, however, was the hug. Certain, far more intimate and racy things he was used to, but hugs? He couldn't remember the last time he'd been hugged in his life. In surprise at the action he initially tensed up, trying to gauge what he was supposed to do, act, say, but then the warmth of the hold relaxed him. It was actually kind of... well, nice. He couldn't remember the last time he'd done 'nice' either.


Feeling the second hand on his back, he grinned. "Hey, you're no longer little miss stumpy. Congratulations."

 

[WolfOfProphecys]

Ash buried her head against his neck, wings twitching. She whimpered softly, careful that she wasn't hurting him. She smiled warmly as he mentioned her hand, and poked him in the nose with her new finger, "Yep" She said, sounding slightly more cheerful. She was trying to hide her anxiety as she waited for the scientists.

 

[Paintedsky]

Shit, Dez swore mentally, definitely not prepared for that- neck touching and whimpering and facial contact. For hell's sake, this was an angel. A demon-slaughtering, clearly damaged angel, who in the outside world would have no business dealing with someone like him; wouldn't even give him a second glance. She was some kind of war hero, someone who actually did things. He told himself over and over that it was just because of the situation. Being companions in torture and healing was bound to form a strong bond of some sort, it happened all the time in war and disaster zones. The fact that she was beautiful and somehow seemed to know exactly how to get to him didn't help, but still, whatever he was feeling was understandable, easy to explain.


That didn't do much to remove the fact that he wanted to kiss her, though.


He gave her a small, amused frown as she poked him in the nose, showing off her new digits, whilst he looked her over. Her coping mechanisms were impressive, really. They should psychoanalyse one another some day, they were perfect for it. Kissing her, however, after she'd just been violated by the ultimate creep Simon, and when she was vulnerable and scared, that was not perfect. Far from it.


Carefully removing himself from the hug, wincing as the pain filtered back in now that the warmth was gone, he tried to keep the wry smile up and cover up any internal feelings of panic. You are experiencing increased levels of adrenaline, he told himself, this is just a momentary spell of childish madness. You are not a teenager. You do not get light-headed and nervous about the idea of kissing people. Grow the fuck up.





Just as he got his thoughts under control, dismissing the moment of intimacy, the door not so far off opened again, and all sense of warm affection vanished, replaced by fear and sickness. "Here we go again."

 

[WolfOfProphecys]

Ash made a small noise as she was unlatched from the hug, and watched him curiously, before jumping about a foot at the door opening. Immediately she stood in front of her demon friend, growling lowly. He wasn't fully healed yet, so she'd try and protect him at least. Had she been able to move her wings they'd be spread out in a intimidating and protective manner, likely brushing the walls. As it was Ash was ready to protect him, fists clenched

 

[Paintedsky]

Dez had been pretty content to just sit and chill before the inevitable began, trying to come up with his ingenious plan in the remaining few minutes. What he hadn't been expected was Ash to jump up and stand in front of him. He wasn't quite sure was she was doing, but when he looked her over, taking in her body language, he realised with a sickening start that she was protecting him. "Ash, Ash you don't need to, I'm fine, honestly," he said quickly, practically pleading with her to stand down. Things were bad enough for her already, he didn't think he could watch them pushing her further just because she'd made the mistake of protecting him. Life never tended to go well for people who made that particular decision, and if he could help it, he didn't want that happening to her either.


All three humans had arrived, Jean leading this time. Simon was trailing behind, looking rather put out, his head hung low. Jean approached the cell, looking at the pair between the bars. "Exactly what do you think you're doing, angel?" She demanded sharply, hers eyes cold and quick.

 

[WolfOfProphecys]

Ash immediately went back into cold hearted mode, at least toward the humans, "Hanging around with my buddy here" She grinned, eyes gleaming with mischief, and she looked Jean over, "Huh." She muttered, then asked abruptly, "Are you married to ugly pants?" She asked, gesturing toward Simon. She didn't move from her protective position in front of the demon, and she wasn't about to anyway. Her body language was basically looking protective and proud, standing as tall as she could, head held in a strong position

 

[Paintedsky]

One part of Dez was impressed; this girl could seriously hold her own ground. That didn't stop the tight, panicky feeling in his chest from starting up. He struggled to his feet, the now nerve-ridden wound sending a blur of dizzy colours through his vision from the pain, but he tried to ignore it, panting slightly. "Ash."


Snorting, Jean actually laughed at Ash's comment. "Me? Married to Simon?" She looked back at the aforementioned 'ugly pants' and laughed again, shaking her head as she looked back at Ash. "Not in the slightest." She then took the hand of the other human male, who stood close, and brought it up and kissed the back of the his hand, keeping her eyes locked with Ash. "This one's mine," she told her quietly, smiling for what might have been the first time since they'd met him. "But I see you've decided you're claiming the whore behind you," she noted, raising an eyebrow. "Bad idea. Simon."


Finally looking up from glaring sourly at the floor, Simon's eyes flickered from Jean, then to Ash, and his weird, crazed smile returned. He lifted his wrist and pushed up his shirt sleeve, revealing a cuff not dissimilar to those Ash and Dez wore. His sported two small dials, however, and he turned the first one, which was linked to Ash's cuff, and designed to trigger the cuffs to release 'reprimanding jolts' to the prisoner.

 

[WolfOfProphecys]

Ash ignored Dez, continuing to stand in the same stance. She grinned at Jean, even as she took the other humans hand, "Awwww Ugly Love" She replied, eyes still holding their mischievous glint, However, when Simon turned the dial she gasped, her already weak legs buckling under her, her body shaking with the painful jolts. Her feathers ruffled in pain, and she glared up at them, now knelt in front of them but between the humans and the demon

 

[Paintedsky]

"For fuck's sake stop," Dez half yelled at the humans, loping rather inelegantly to Ash, trying to work out just how badly she was hurt. Glaring up at the humans, becoming increasingly pissed off with this whole situation, he stood, trying to look as authoritative as was possible in prison clothing and what with having a massive gaping hole down his middle. "Isn't this going to affect your precious results?" He snapped, stepping closer to the bar, glaring between the three of them, each in turn. "And you're not touching her wings neither."


"Dammit Simon," Jean said with heavy exasperation. "You haven't been blabbing to the girl again, have you?"


"Fuck off, it could easily have been Thomas just as much as it could have been me," Simon yelled back, gesturing wildly to the other human male, who apparently is now called Thomas.


"You should have done your research before trying that bright idea," Dez said, as calmly as he could, trying to ignore the pain that was threatening to floor him as his muscles started stitching themselves together, physically dragging his body back together. "You cut her wings, she'll be crippled for weeks. All the experiments you do will be useless."


"Is this true?" Jean asked, tilting her head in Thomas's direction.


"Yeah, I just thought you didn't care," Thomas answered with a shrug, seeming bored by the matter rather than anything else.

 

[WolfOfProphecys]

Ash blinked at the demon, lowering her head as he talked about her wings. She let out a shiver, her feathers fluffing, and she absently picked at the cuff as she talked. She listened quietly, allowing her true feelings to show instead of her mask. Knelt on the floor she looked defeated, her wings slowly greying hour by hour. When she had been captured they had been pure white but now, because of the pain, lack of sunlight and the conditions they were in her feathers were greying.

 

[Paintedsky]

(P.s on my phone so my typos will be infinite and badly formatted)


"You really ought to take care of your subjects better. She's not going to be any use to you if you break her," Dez said venomously.


"Simon," Jean said, "go and prepare the fourth test for Ash. We'll reschedule the wings for the end. Now!" Jean snapped when Simon failed to respond. He thus skulked off, muttering to himself as he left.


His shoulders slumping in fragile relief, dez leaned again the wall, his vision of the room spinning. He looked to ash, squinting, noting her greying wins a remembering that they weren't safe yet.