Wings and Tears: Part 14

 

            The car stopped several hundred feet from a secluded part of the shoreline. Luc sat up in surprise. “The beach!” he called out.

            “I remember, before the war, when Earth had been made, but the Plan of Humans had not be presented, when all of the land on this planet was one, Pangaea, as humans call it, we used to sit on the beach and waste our time,” Michael said. He was facing the sea, but his eyes were lost in sweet memories.

            “It was never a waste of time to be in your arms.” Luc told him, looking from the beach to Michael. Michael looked up at him.

            “No, no. I guess your right.”

            Luc smiled and jumped from the car. “Race ya to the water!” he yelled to his lover and started running.

            “Hey! No fair!” Michael yelled as he quickly jumped from the car to chase after him. Luc laughed and ran faster, but Michael’s fit body easily caught up with him and grabbed him, they both fell to sand and Luc laughed wildly as Michael turned him around to kiss his lips, a layer of sand had gathered on his check. The salty water rushed to soak them. They both yelped and quickly Michael stood and helped Luc to his feet. They looked at each other, both half soaked, and laughed as the ocean rushed away from their feet.

 

~~

 

            He was dreaming again, and this time he knew it. An eerie white light clouded his view. He put a hand up to shield his eyes and tried to make out what he was seeing. He heard someone crying, but didn’t know who it was. The white light disappeared quickly and Solo saw he was in a child’s room. He saw a small bed with a soft purple bed spread and a smiling stuffed unicorn. Hanna? The crying was coming from the corner. Solo moved to see who it was. He saw Quatre and Hanna, both with tears running from their eyes, clinging onto each other. Duo ran into the room, his braid was partly undone. There was blood coming from a cut on his lip and a swollen bruise was forming on his cheek. “What happened?” Duo demanded of Quatre and Hanna, “What did he do?”

            Quatre looked up at his friend. Solo saw that Quatre had been roughed up as well, one of his eyes was swelling up and a small cut bled from his forehead. Hanna held to her Daddy tight and sobbed. “He…he…” the blonde tried to begin. Solo realized the Quatre’s shirt was torn.

            Solo suddenly found himself on the roof, he looked around and saw Trowa standing at the edge, the toes of his bare feet hung over and he was glaring at the ground. He was wearing only white sweat pants. “Trowa!” he tried to call out, then remembered it was only a dream. Heero burst from the door, stamping onto the roof. Solo watched him walk towards his friend.

            “Trowa?” Heero asked. Trowa turned to look at Heero, his green eyes were crying. “What happened?”

            “I couldn’t stop him.” Trowa said simply. He looked back to the ground, two stories down. “I couldn’t stop him. Quatre cried and Hanna screamed and I couldn’t stop him.” Then before Heero could stop him, Trowa titled his body and fell from the roof. Arms spread wide, in what seemed like agonizing slow motion, he accepted suicide.

            Solo woke up screaming with the thud of Trowa’s body hitting the ground. He was on the ground, maybe the thud was his own body falling off the bed. Duo and Heero rushed into the room.

            “Solo!” Duo called, panicking when he failed to see his son on the bed.

            Solo stood, his body twisted in sheets, “Its ok. It was just a bad dream, a get a few of those.”

            Quatre and Trowa rushed in the room as well, clothes thrown carelessly on.

            “What happened?” Quatre asked, his hand was clasped over his heart. Upon viewing them Solo looked at the ground.

            “I…I had a nightmare.”

            Duo went to touch his son. “Are you ok now?”

            Solo nodded weakly, sleep beckoned to him again, “Like I said, I have nightmares some times. Mom used to say they were premonitions. Michael said they were things to come.”

            “What was it about?” Trowa asked, “Maybe it can help us.”

            Solo shook his head, “I…I’m tried. We can talk about it in the morning? Please?”

            Duo nodded, “Yeah, sure. Are you sure you’re ok?”

            “Yeah.” Solo crawled back into bed.

            Duo helped his move the covers over Solo and he kissed his son’s forehead. “Sleep tight,” he whispered.

            Solo nodded, eyes already heavy with weariness. (1)

 

~~

            Halfway across the globe Luc carefully stepped onto another rock. He dropped Michael’s hand. Michael turned around to see his lover’s cautious looks.

            “These rocks are too slippery.”

            “Come on Luc! It’s not like your going to fall and break your neck. You’ll just get a little wet.”

            Luc glared at Michael, “Exactly.” Michael smiled evilly at Luc. “Oh no, you don’t!” Luc held out his hands to no avail. Michael scooped him up in one fluid motion and dropped him into the water. Luc yelped as the cold salty ocean met his body. He felt sharp rocks under his body, but his resilient angelic skin stopped any blood flow. Michael was laughing hysterically and Luc tried to get up, but slipped and fell again. Michael laughed some more. “Oh, ha ha! Could you collect yourself and help me up now?” Luc held out a wet hand. Michael took it. Luc quickly pulled Michael into the water as well. Laughing at Michael’s mock-indignant glare, he started to splash water at his lover. Michael retaliated and soon both were laughing and splashing the other.

 

            The day passed too quickly for their liking and as darkness fell over the sky they were laying on the car’s hood, Luc was held carefully and protectively in Michael’s arms.

            “The day after tomorrow, you have something you need to do, don’t you?”

            Michael nodded, “Yes, my love, I do. I need you to come with me too.”

            Luc turned his head to look at Michael, “Huh?” he asked.

            “If I leave you without mine or the Spirit’s protection, and the Spirit must come with me, God might come and drag you back to Hell.” Luc shuddered and shook his head. No, he thought, I don’t ever want to go back there. “I know, I know,” Michael whispered into his ear reassuringly. “But Luc, my dearest, you have to not interfere with what I do. Please, promise me you will stand by me.”

            Luc nodded vigorously, “Of course, there’s nothing you could do that would make me turn my back on you.”

            Michael smiled, “I don’t deserve that type of love.”

            “Well you have it, now deal.”

            Michael laughed softly, Luc smiled at the soft rocking of his chest. 

 

~~

 

            Quatre stared at Solo, “Are you sure?”

            Solo nodded, “That’s what I saw. It was odd though because the room wasn’t the one Hanna has here and the house wasn’t this house.”

            “Well, then, maybe it was just a dream.” Quatre said desperately. Trowa put his hand on his husband’s shoulder. Quatre looked at his and smiled weakly.

            “Solo, if you ever see the house or room, be sure to tell us.” Heero said.

            Solo nodded, “I will.”

            “Good,” Duo touched his son, “It must be a terrifying gift, to see the future.”

            Solo nodded and put his head on his father’s shoulder. Heero rubbed his back softly. “Tomorrow is the Leader’s Conference, isn’t it?” Solo asked.

            “Yeah, yeah it is,” Trowa said distantly.

 

~~

 

            Relena looked around the crowded and noisy room. She quickly found the seat she was told she would be assigned to.

            “Miss Relena!” called a familiar voice.

            “Dorothy!” Relena smiled at her friend. Dorothy came next to Relena.

            “I believe we are sitting next to each other, Miss Relena.”

            “Yes, that’s right, Dorothy. My brother will be on the other side of me.”

            “I always find big meetings like this so exciting, don’t you? Just think, all of the leaders, political and economic, of our Nation, under one roof.”

            Relena didn’t care to mention that she thought things like this were really boring. She and Dorothy moved to their seats. “I heard that Quatre Raberba Winner-Barton wasn’t attending because he wished to spend time with his daughter.”

            “Well, most leaders then. Last time we had this meeting that adorable little girl hadn’t been alive.”

            Relena nodded. It was the day that the second Leader’s Conference would begin. Men and woman took their seats and conversed. Relena sat she still carried on a half-hearted conversation with Dorothy. Two strong arms hugged her from behind and platinum blonde hair fell into her view. She looked up into her brother’s piercing blue eyes. “Hello Millardo,” she said.

            “Hello Relena,” Millardo answered and affectionately kissed his sister’s forehead. The Preventer enforces took their seats.

            “Hello Relena.” Lucrezia told her sister-in-law.

            Relena smiled, “Hello Lucrezia, I trust you are keeping my brother in line.”

            Lucrezia laughed.

            Sally joined in, “Oh yeah, he is so whipped.”

            “Hey!” Millardo protested.

            The group laughed.

            “Where’s Wufei?” Relena asked curiously eyeing the empty chair separating Sally and Une.

            “He wanted to spend time with his friends,” Millardo said the lie offhanded.

            Relena nodded, “I met Solo.” The Preventers exchanged glances Relena didn’t notice, “He is a nice boy, but because of that boy the five are all here on Earth. It is rare that they are all together.”

            Millardo grumbled something under his breath.

            “Oh please Millardo, you’ve held a grudge longer than I have. I personally am happy that Heero is happy, and I’ve moved on.”

            “Don’t worry, Relena, he thinks it’s his job to be a jerk.” Une joked.

            Before Millardo could speak up a voice called through the room. The new President was speaking to the entire room.

            “If you all will please take your seats, we will be on the air with the Introduction in only a matter of minutes.” The leaders rushed to their seats and waited, after a few minutes, “Ok, we will be on the air in…five…four…three…two…Good day Leaders and Citizens.” This room had two rows of bleacher-type seats that slanted upwards, giving each leader their own desk, the President stood behind a podium that was against the far wall between the two rows. “As we all know, this is the second Leaders Conference of our blessed Nation. We will start the talks by introducing the leaders. We will start to my left…”

            The President started to say the names and titles of each leader. The entire room clapped after each name and said leader would stand, bow or wave.

            “…Vice Foreign Minister, Relena Dorlin…” (2) Relena stood to her name and waved happily.

            “…Her brother, Preventer Enforcer Millardo Peacecraft…” Millardo stood and Relena sat.

            “…His wife, Preventer Enforcer Lucrezia Peacecraft…” Lucrezia stood and bowed melodramatically.

            “…Preventer Enforcer, Sally Poe…” Sally didn’t stand but waved. The names continued past Une and as they ended Millardo leaned towards his sister.

            “My hands are red, how about you?” he whispered. Relena smiled.

            “And,” the President continued, “There is, of course, last but not least, myself. President--”

            Hold on Mr. President, you have forgotten someone. A vaporous voice rang into the room, almost as if it had originated from the walls itself. Relena looked around, startled. Her looks were matched by most people in the room. The doors and windows slammed shut and locked. No one could get in, and no one could get out. Leaders of humans, behold, the leader of angels, the archangel, Michael. Millardo shot a glance at his wife’s shocked face and then he looked to where she was staring. In the middle of the room stood and man, with spread out white feathered wings. At his side was a blonde man, without visible wings, and a boy with pure white eyes…

            “Wufei!” Sally called out, breaking the shocked silence of the room. The trio in the middle of the room all looked up at her. Michael smiled and the room gave in to chaos.