Continuation of Captivity Meme

[werewolf_hacker]

For adversarially and rebelle_elle.

Start of adversarially's thread: here.

Start of rebelle_elle: here

Comments

[werewolf-hacker.livejournal.com]

[Three of the angels break loose from the host to see to Galiel, while another lands behind Ben and frees him from the shackles.

That leaves ninety-six to deal with Shaitan.

Ben sits up, gasping, snarling, and reaching for both his Eagle and his sword cane. But, honestly, there's not a whole lot those weapons can do against... whatever that is that Shai is doing, so he's just gonna sit here on his knees and hold his broken ribs instead.]

[adversarially.livejournal.com]

[And Shaitan rages in his wrath, vast and ancient and terrible, but not even a Prince of Hell can take those kinds of odds without preparation, and although he howls and lashes out and leaves more than one angel battered and bleeding, eventually the whirlwind changes, becomes ashes and cinders and black, black smoke that swirls faster and faster until it vanishes with the high-pitched scream of a steam whistle.]

[werewolf-hacker.livejournal.com]

[While all that's going on, Ben lurches to his feet and stumbles over to Galiel and the three angels tending him. He doesn't have any Grace to lend, but he bows his head and prays, beseeching Dad on behalf of His son.]

Don't die...

[guriel]

[Galiel reaches up a weak, shaky hand and takes Ben's hand in his own. Did. Did well.

Thank you . . .

And Guriel's there, dropping to his knees at their side.] Ben, Galiel . . .

[werewolf-hacker.livejournal.com]

[And Ben gasps, because he heard that, clear as day...] Ga-- Galiel? Can you--?

Guri, what...?

[And he feels something flicker in his chest. He holds Galiel's hand gently, instinct as old as time telling him what to do with it...

And he sends that flicker through his touch into the wounded angel.]

[guriel]

[Galiel gasps, closing his eyes again as that flicker of Grace joins that of his brothers. Thank you.

Guri wraps an arm around Ben's shoulders, lays the other hand on Galiel, and adds his Grace to the mix as well.] Be easy, brothers. You're among the Host.

[werewolf-hacker.livejournal.com]

[Ben leans into him. He's just now realizing how difficult it is to breathe.] I knew. Knew Dad wouldn't hang us out to dry. Didn't fall to my Wrath. Didn't feed that bastard...

[guriel]

[Guri nods and rests his cheek on Ben's hair.] Called on Dad. Not me. That's the True Faith that Shaitan can't touch. That's his kryptonite.

[werewolf-hacker.livejournal.com]

Good to... know.

[He swallows.] He kicked me pretty hard. Don't like to ask, with how bad Galiel's off, but. Having some trouble breathing here, bro.

[guriel]

[Guriel nods and presses a kiss to Ben's hair, letting Grace flow from it.] Be eased, Hound of God. Your battle is over.

[werewolf-hacker.livejournal.com]

[Ben nods against him.] Not mental, this time. I think... he busted some ribs. Bad. [He coughs, and... yep. That's blood...]

[guriel]

Easy, bro, I gotcha. Let go and let the Grace do its thing, yeah? [More Grace. One or two of the Century come over and add their efforts to their brothers'.]

[werewolf-hacker.livejournal.com]

[Ben makes a noise down in his throat and tries to relax.] Galiel. Is he okay? Shai wanted-- [He stops and shakes his head.] Shai's a bastard.

[guriel]

[Guriel winces and wraps Ben up in an embrace.] Yes, he is.

We'll do everything we can for him.

[werewolf-hacker.livejournal.com]

[Ben swallows. Now that it's over, his eyes are prickling and he's got the shakes.] I would like very much to go home now.

[guriel]

Guri nods and lets their brothers know where they're going, and then he and Gib and Ben are Moving, back to the living room at home.] Easy, easy. I got you.

[werewolf-hacker.livejournal.com]

[And Ben basically collapses against Guriel.] Oh, God. Oh, Dad. I thought he was going to kill Galiel right in front of me.

If he had...

[guriel]

[Guriel shudders and holds him closer, while Gib takes on a body and wraps himself around both of them until they're all entangled in a tight knot of protection around him.] I know. I know. Easy, brother, take it easy. He didn't. And you're out of there, now. You're safe.

[werewolf-hacker.livejournal.com]

I can still taste his blood... [And there's a lot of very embarrassing waterworks, right there. Dammit. But that's the bad button, and it came way too close to getting pushed.]

[guriel]

[Guriel just rocks him, pouring out Grace, trying to soothe him and offer him comfort.]

[werewolf-hacker.livejournal.com]

[It's all the worse because he physically can't get a deep breath. Clinging to both angels in a manner that would crush an ordinary human, he takes longer than usual to come down from this one, and his chest still aches when he does.]

Well. That was horrifying. Sorry.

[guriel]

Don't you dare apologize. [Guriel runs a hand over his back.] Only one who should apologize is Shaitan, that bastard.

[werewolf-hacker.livejournal.com]

I didn't know what else to do, to stop him from-- I couldn't-- [And he stops, and swallows, and gets a visible hold on himself.]

Shai ripped his tongue out.

[guriel]

[Guriel shudders and squeezes his eyes shut.] We've been looking for him for months. Couldn't figure out . . .

[And he stops, because there's no need to finish that sentence.]

[werewolf-hacker.livejournal.com]

He was in bad shape even before... [Ben shakes his head.]

I need a shower so bad.