The next morning, Azriel awoke, the sun warm and tingling on her face.
Smiling, she lifted her head from Nicki's chest and looked up at him. After
a few persistent kisses her lover awoke with a small in-coherent mumble and
a rub at his tired eyes.
"Morning." Azriel whispered, one again claiming Nicki's lips in another kiss. The Tuccian smiled, arms tightening around Azriel. "Morning lover." He replied.
One exploratory hand trailed down to brush over Azriel's stomach, smiling softly. "How you feeling?"
Azriel heard Nicki's un asked question, her hand following his as she replied with an enthusiastic nod and big grin. Her fingers entwined with those of the youth. "I'm feeling wonderful."
"Good, lets have a bath."
***
When Nicki opened the door, he tripped over the large black panther laying across the floor. The youth hit the ground with an amusing "thud", and was met by series of giggles from little Lady Order.
Nicki glared, removed his feet from the panther who had opened one blue eye to take in Nicki, and then closed it again as his sister's hand gently stroked him on the head.
"Hello Magio. where have you been?" Azriel asked. Nicki scrambled to his feet and frowned. "That's weird, he looks and has the power of Magio, but smell's like James."
"It's because he is." Chirruped Ti, appearing from no-where, as per usual. No-one flinched, they were perfectly used to the experience. He crouched down, reaching for a moment to push up his shades. At that moment Tim appeared, looking slightly pout because Rigel was currently hiding in the darkness of the basement with Jasper. He wasn't keen on the idea, mainly because Rigel had commented on Jasper's looks. But everyone knew that Rigel wouldn't do anything. Tim was really just using it as an excuse so he could be all pouty and lonesome while his lover slept.
"So? How did it go?" The little Azrulin' whispered, little Seitaki in his arms. Shaking his head Nicki padded over, and scooped the babe up, giving her a cuddle and cooing softly.
"I don't know, anyone got a pregnancy test?" At this point, Ti, who had been cuddling Azriel and Magio together - fairly ecstatically, for it was the first time in a long long time that all three siblings were together - jumped about ecstatically, on the roof.
"I'm going to be an uncle!" he cried, a shower of red, white and black feathers falling from his wings, which at this point, were purple. Seitaki tried to catch a few in the tiny hands, and succeeded with a giggle.
"Well, at least we don't have to sit around forever waiting for a small line to turn pink." Nicki reflected, removing a feather from his head. For a moment everyone was still, staring at Nicki and wondering what the hell he was on about. Except Magio, he was licking a paw. The youth shrugged in response. That seemed to quell their confusion.
"But sadly." Ti said, sitting down on Magio, who growled, stood up and swiped a protesting paw at Neutrality. It passed through him and no-one noticed. "Magio and I found your alter ego child." He pointed at Nicki. "And we must catch him."
Upon hearing this let a small pout dance across her lips. Frowning she walked over to Nicki and slipped into his other arm. "You mean. you've found Destruction?" "Mmm-hmm, Darkness hides in the Dark City, and refuses to come out. We must catch him!"
"Darkness?" Azriel looked to Nicki, who was avoiding her gaze. "That's his name." "He has a name?" "Don't you name the voices in your head?" "I don't have voices in my head." Azriel lied. Her lover shrugged and placed little Seitaki in her arms.
"I guess I have to go." "I'm coming!" Azriel began, about to hand Seitaki to Tim, who was watching the exchange baffled. Ti shook his head in response.
"Alas, you cannot. Chaos poisoning is not good for a mother-to-be." "What do you mean?" "He means." sighed Nicki, "That Destruction is hiding in Matica, the Chaos city. Which, in a weird way, is an extension of Magio. You go in and you'll be eaten by Chaos. Same way Magio can't.." He trailed off, trying to think of a place Azriel had created. "Cant.Never mind. You can't go, and anyway, you're to stay safe and calm and quiet, I don't want you hurt."
Grudgingly Azriel allowed Nicki to go, settling into another day at the castle, one filled with worry and long, drawn out waiting.
***
As they journeyed there, Ti twittered on about various philosophical ideas, the colour of the sky, some stuff Nicki didn't know about and Magio didn't care about, and birds.
"Don't they just have the cutest little wings? And their tiny little beaks and the cute little songs?"
Eventually Nicki tuned him out, following the dark panther that padded silently in front of him. In some ways he was relived that he was going to get Destruction. After all, he didn't want that force of sheer. Chaos? No that was a lame word, and Destruction would be an even worse one. well, to be honest he didn't want that force running around doing whatever it wanted. It might decide to turn on Azwult, and Nicki didn't want little Seitaki and her little brother and/or sister having to grow up with that to fear. Plus it had wreaked complete devastation on the land in the south, then slipped away.
So it was hiding here. Nicki stood before the gates of the city, knowing that it was due to Magio's sheer will that they were here anyway. Normally the city was "sunk below the earth" as Anton liked to say, which was really just a fancy term for "somewhere in the middle of some other dimension, possibly the back of Magio's mind." The entire city was covered in dark clouds, the many lanterns that lit the streets casting little useful light. It was a huge city, and yet very, very empty. Everything had a slight purple sheen to it, and as Nicki placed his footsteps upon the cobbles, he could feel Destruction lurking somewhere, somewhere close.
Ti turned serious, leaning into Nicki and whispering to him. "Magio and I shall corner him, but you need to make the kill. Drain him as quickly as you can, and you'll consume his spirit in the process. It'll flee into you, the only vessel that can host it, and then he shall be bound to you again." "Oh great." Nicki muttered. "I only need to drain Destruction. Won't this go swimmingly?" "Yes, the plan is wonderfully simple isn't it?" Nicki would've happily strangled Ti right then and there. But he couldn't, because that would just be hopeful thinking.
Meanwhile Magio had sat down, and was testing the air. After a few moments of silent contemplation, Chaos moved into a slow lope, heading after the strongest scent trail. A slight drizzle began upon them, and Nicki frowned as he wiped his hair out is eyes and set off after Magio. Ti floated effortlessly along side them.
Their chase led them all over the city, they'd turn an ally and have a glimpse of a creature masked in shadow, and then it would vanish. Nicki lost count of the number of times he'd climbed over walls. It was like a stinking labyrinth. Eventually they stood in the entrance to an empty livery stable. Nicki shut the door behind him, and Ti and Magio moved out.
The large panther slipped into a deserted stall, a large growl resonating out and suddenly something shot out from the shadows, heading in a bee-line for the window. Ti barred it's way with a small growl, which, as Nicki reflected later, didn't really suit what he had considered a sort of jester.
Destruction landed, the green eyes narrowing and turning to look at Nicki. The youth glared back, and to his surprised he was looking at something he didn't think of when one thought 'Destruction'.
The creature before him resembled Anton, in that it had dragon wings and a dragon tail, except the tail was a pastel blue, and the wings a pastel pink. He was totally naked, the taloned hands a soft, pleasant yellow. A soft covering of white fur adorned his body, the red hair, so similar to Nicki's own, streamed down over his shoulders. A garland of daisies rested in his hair.
The colours themselves were a great surprise to the youth. The glimmer of intelligence in those eyes. Nicki had been expecting to meet something that was a bit like Magio, slow of wit and single minded. And very dark. And probably covered in blood. But. this was nothing like that. It was almost.pretty.
The attack took him by surprised. The high pitched screech of anger, the flux of power directed at him and the feeling of the claws ripping into his sides was all something totally unexpected. But Nicki rolled with the punches, as he always did.
They hit the ground with a thud, Nicki rolling away and stumbling to his feet to get his bearings. He didn't realise it, but at that moment he had turned his back on Darkness.
Destruction saw his chance and leapt, his slender body curling and he ripped his talons deep into the flesh of Nicki's neck and shoulder.
Nicki cried out in pain and sunk to his knees, hands locking around Destruction's head, fingernails digging into the scalp. He flung Destruction to the ground, making the wound on his neck even bigger, but also tearing off some of his opponents skin. It was the first time Destruction had bled since he'd been released, but he bleed as well as anything else. He howled in pain, and sent a savage kick to Nicki's side, landing it successfully, sending Nicki flying a few feet and putting a good distance between them.
Getting to his knees Nicki looked at Ti, and them at Magio. "Little.help. would be great guys." He panted, only to have his attention drawn away by Destruction making a run at him. Nicki leapt to the left, avoiding what would have been a lethal attack to the head, and rolling he pounced, sent a swinging kick at Destruction's legs, sweeping him off his feet and knocking him to the ground. The youth pounced, tearing his teeth into the artery at Destruction's neck, attempting to use his weight to pin him down, and managing successfully - Destruction had hit his head and was momentarily stunned. Eventually he was dislodged.
Nicki was visibly tiring. The loss of blood through his neck wound was hurting like hell and making his lethargic. In a desperate and probably stupid move, he lunged for Destructions stomach, exposing his neck, shoulders and back to his opponent. His fingers curled into claws, ripped a wound in the creatures stomach, causing him to screech again in pain, and stumble to the ground. Nicki saw his chance, and spinning on his heel forced Destruction to lie face down on the ground, hands grabbing his arms and pinning them to his back. At this point Magio padded forwards and sat heavily across Destructions legs and tail, preventing from him using them to aid his escape.
Nicki tore open the throat before him, lapping up every single delicious mouthful, purring loudly. The taste was exquisite, and he himself was extremely hungry. He hadn't been feeding properly in the last few weeks, due to understandable circumstances. And the blood loss during the fight only fuelled that hunger. Every mouthful was like hot fire, and he felt it spreading through his malnourished system and settling it.
He felt the heart stop beating, but kept drinking. There was still blood to be had, and damn it, he wanted it. In his fever he tore a mouthful of flesh from the neck, and gulped that down with barely stopping to chew. He felt a heavy hand on his shoulder, and Ti withdrew him.
"It is done." He whispered, looking upon the dead form of Destruction. Magio padded forward, and sniffed the wound, casting a glance at Nicki, who was still bleeding heavily. Ti saw to that, hands placed over Nicki's wound, a soft white light healing it.
At the same moment Neutrality also cast a little seal over Destruction, sealing him back inside the destined.
And at the back of his mind, Nicki heard the slow, quiet pulse of anger. The soft, urging. The voice he'd always tried to avoid. The one that told him to simply decimate everything, it whispered that he should leap upon Ti and Magio and tear them apart.
Nicki grinned and ignored it. "Can I go and revel with my fiancée now?" He asked.
And he did.
"Morning." Azriel whispered, one again claiming Nicki's lips in another kiss. The Tuccian smiled, arms tightening around Azriel. "Morning lover." He replied.
One exploratory hand trailed down to brush over Azriel's stomach, smiling softly. "How you feeling?"
Azriel heard Nicki's un asked question, her hand following his as she replied with an enthusiastic nod and big grin. Her fingers entwined with those of the youth. "I'm feeling wonderful."
"Good, lets have a bath."
***
When Nicki opened the door, he tripped over the large black panther laying across the floor. The youth hit the ground with an amusing "thud", and was met by series of giggles from little Lady Order.
Nicki glared, removed his feet from the panther who had opened one blue eye to take in Nicki, and then closed it again as his sister's hand gently stroked him on the head.
"Hello Magio. where have you been?" Azriel asked. Nicki scrambled to his feet and frowned. "That's weird, he looks and has the power of Magio, but smell's like James."
"It's because he is." Chirruped Ti, appearing from no-where, as per usual. No-one flinched, they were perfectly used to the experience. He crouched down, reaching for a moment to push up his shades. At that moment Tim appeared, looking slightly pout because Rigel was currently hiding in the darkness of the basement with Jasper. He wasn't keen on the idea, mainly because Rigel had commented on Jasper's looks. But everyone knew that Rigel wouldn't do anything. Tim was really just using it as an excuse so he could be all pouty and lonesome while his lover slept.
"So? How did it go?" The little Azrulin' whispered, little Seitaki in his arms. Shaking his head Nicki padded over, and scooped the babe up, giving her a cuddle and cooing softly.
"I don't know, anyone got a pregnancy test?" At this point, Ti, who had been cuddling Azriel and Magio together - fairly ecstatically, for it was the first time in a long long time that all three siblings were together - jumped about ecstatically, on the roof.
"I'm going to be an uncle!" he cried, a shower of red, white and black feathers falling from his wings, which at this point, were purple. Seitaki tried to catch a few in the tiny hands, and succeeded with a giggle.
"Well, at least we don't have to sit around forever waiting for a small line to turn pink." Nicki reflected, removing a feather from his head. For a moment everyone was still, staring at Nicki and wondering what the hell he was on about. Except Magio, he was licking a paw. The youth shrugged in response. That seemed to quell their confusion.
"But sadly." Ti said, sitting down on Magio, who growled, stood up and swiped a protesting paw at Neutrality. It passed through him and no-one noticed. "Magio and I found your alter ego child." He pointed at Nicki. "And we must catch him."
Upon hearing this let a small pout dance across her lips. Frowning she walked over to Nicki and slipped into his other arm. "You mean. you've found Destruction?" "Mmm-hmm, Darkness hides in the Dark City, and refuses to come out. We must catch him!"
"Darkness?" Azriel looked to Nicki, who was avoiding her gaze. "That's his name." "He has a name?" "Don't you name the voices in your head?" "I don't have voices in my head." Azriel lied. Her lover shrugged and placed little Seitaki in her arms.
"I guess I have to go." "I'm coming!" Azriel began, about to hand Seitaki to Tim, who was watching the exchange baffled. Ti shook his head in response.
"Alas, you cannot. Chaos poisoning is not good for a mother-to-be." "What do you mean?" "He means." sighed Nicki, "That Destruction is hiding in Matica, the Chaos city. Which, in a weird way, is an extension of Magio. You go in and you'll be eaten by Chaos. Same way Magio can't.." He trailed off, trying to think of a place Azriel had created. "Cant.Never mind. You can't go, and anyway, you're to stay safe and calm and quiet, I don't want you hurt."
Grudgingly Azriel allowed Nicki to go, settling into another day at the castle, one filled with worry and long, drawn out waiting.
***
As they journeyed there, Ti twittered on about various philosophical ideas, the colour of the sky, some stuff Nicki didn't know about and Magio didn't care about, and birds.
"Don't they just have the cutest little wings? And their tiny little beaks and the cute little songs?"
Eventually Nicki tuned him out, following the dark panther that padded silently in front of him. In some ways he was relived that he was going to get Destruction. After all, he didn't want that force of sheer. Chaos? No that was a lame word, and Destruction would be an even worse one. well, to be honest he didn't want that force running around doing whatever it wanted. It might decide to turn on Azwult, and Nicki didn't want little Seitaki and her little brother and/or sister having to grow up with that to fear. Plus it had wreaked complete devastation on the land in the south, then slipped away.
So it was hiding here. Nicki stood before the gates of the city, knowing that it was due to Magio's sheer will that they were here anyway. Normally the city was "sunk below the earth" as Anton liked to say, which was really just a fancy term for "somewhere in the middle of some other dimension, possibly the back of Magio's mind." The entire city was covered in dark clouds, the many lanterns that lit the streets casting little useful light. It was a huge city, and yet very, very empty. Everything had a slight purple sheen to it, and as Nicki placed his footsteps upon the cobbles, he could feel Destruction lurking somewhere, somewhere close.
Ti turned serious, leaning into Nicki and whispering to him. "Magio and I shall corner him, but you need to make the kill. Drain him as quickly as you can, and you'll consume his spirit in the process. It'll flee into you, the only vessel that can host it, and then he shall be bound to you again." "Oh great." Nicki muttered. "I only need to drain Destruction. Won't this go swimmingly?" "Yes, the plan is wonderfully simple isn't it?" Nicki would've happily strangled Ti right then and there. But he couldn't, because that would just be hopeful thinking.
Meanwhile Magio had sat down, and was testing the air. After a few moments of silent contemplation, Chaos moved into a slow lope, heading after the strongest scent trail. A slight drizzle began upon them, and Nicki frowned as he wiped his hair out is eyes and set off after Magio. Ti floated effortlessly along side them.
Their chase led them all over the city, they'd turn an ally and have a glimpse of a creature masked in shadow, and then it would vanish. Nicki lost count of the number of times he'd climbed over walls. It was like a stinking labyrinth. Eventually they stood in the entrance to an empty livery stable. Nicki shut the door behind him, and Ti and Magio moved out.
The large panther slipped into a deserted stall, a large growl resonating out and suddenly something shot out from the shadows, heading in a bee-line for the window. Ti barred it's way with a small growl, which, as Nicki reflected later, didn't really suit what he had considered a sort of jester.
Destruction landed, the green eyes narrowing and turning to look at Nicki. The youth glared back, and to his surprised he was looking at something he didn't think of when one thought 'Destruction'.
The creature before him resembled Anton, in that it had dragon wings and a dragon tail, except the tail was a pastel blue, and the wings a pastel pink. He was totally naked, the taloned hands a soft, pleasant yellow. A soft covering of white fur adorned his body, the red hair, so similar to Nicki's own, streamed down over his shoulders. A garland of daisies rested in his hair.
The colours themselves were a great surprise to the youth. The glimmer of intelligence in those eyes. Nicki had been expecting to meet something that was a bit like Magio, slow of wit and single minded. And very dark. And probably covered in blood. But. this was nothing like that. It was almost.pretty.
The attack took him by surprised. The high pitched screech of anger, the flux of power directed at him and the feeling of the claws ripping into his sides was all something totally unexpected. But Nicki rolled with the punches, as he always did.
They hit the ground with a thud, Nicki rolling away and stumbling to his feet to get his bearings. He didn't realise it, but at that moment he had turned his back on Darkness.
Destruction saw his chance and leapt, his slender body curling and he ripped his talons deep into the flesh of Nicki's neck and shoulder.
Nicki cried out in pain and sunk to his knees, hands locking around Destruction's head, fingernails digging into the scalp. He flung Destruction to the ground, making the wound on his neck even bigger, but also tearing off some of his opponents skin. It was the first time Destruction had bled since he'd been released, but he bleed as well as anything else. He howled in pain, and sent a savage kick to Nicki's side, landing it successfully, sending Nicki flying a few feet and putting a good distance between them.
Getting to his knees Nicki looked at Ti, and them at Magio. "Little.help. would be great guys." He panted, only to have his attention drawn away by Destruction making a run at him. Nicki leapt to the left, avoiding what would have been a lethal attack to the head, and rolling he pounced, sent a swinging kick at Destruction's legs, sweeping him off his feet and knocking him to the ground. The youth pounced, tearing his teeth into the artery at Destruction's neck, attempting to use his weight to pin him down, and managing successfully - Destruction had hit his head and was momentarily stunned. Eventually he was dislodged.
Nicki was visibly tiring. The loss of blood through his neck wound was hurting like hell and making his lethargic. In a desperate and probably stupid move, he lunged for Destructions stomach, exposing his neck, shoulders and back to his opponent. His fingers curled into claws, ripped a wound in the creatures stomach, causing him to screech again in pain, and stumble to the ground. Nicki saw his chance, and spinning on his heel forced Destruction to lie face down on the ground, hands grabbing his arms and pinning them to his back. At this point Magio padded forwards and sat heavily across Destructions legs and tail, preventing from him using them to aid his escape.
Nicki tore open the throat before him, lapping up every single delicious mouthful, purring loudly. The taste was exquisite, and he himself was extremely hungry. He hadn't been feeding properly in the last few weeks, due to understandable circumstances. And the blood loss during the fight only fuelled that hunger. Every mouthful was like hot fire, and he felt it spreading through his malnourished system and settling it.
He felt the heart stop beating, but kept drinking. There was still blood to be had, and damn it, he wanted it. In his fever he tore a mouthful of flesh from the neck, and gulped that down with barely stopping to chew. He felt a heavy hand on his shoulder, and Ti withdrew him.
"It is done." He whispered, looking upon the dead form of Destruction. Magio padded forward, and sniffed the wound, casting a glance at Nicki, who was still bleeding heavily. Ti saw to that, hands placed over Nicki's wound, a soft white light healing it.
At the same moment Neutrality also cast a little seal over Destruction, sealing him back inside the destined.
And at the back of his mind, Nicki heard the slow, quiet pulse of anger. The soft, urging. The voice he'd always tried to avoid. The one that told him to simply decimate everything, it whispered that he should leap upon Ti and Magio and tear them apart.
Nicki grinned and ignored it. "Can I go and revel with my fiancée now?" He asked.
And he did.