| Hybrid Genesis: Angelic Purgatory
“First Kiss” By The Bard’s Apprentice Disclaimer: First of all, this fic is SHOUNEN AI. Meaning it's about a male/male relationship. If you're offended by that type of thing, don't read on. Second, this fic was actually based on an original web manga by Reiko. If any of you have not yet experienced the magificence that is Hybrid Genesis, it is strongly suggested that you go to www.hybridgenesis.com and read the manga first, otherwise you won't have a clue about what's going on in the fic. Otherwise, enjoy! <(^.^)v Kennan stared at his reflection in the mirror in his room, carefully dabbing at the dirt in and around the wound above his right eye. He hissed, sucking in a sudden breath and drawing back as the damp cloth touched the torn skin. Then he noticed the bruise flowering a deep purple on his left cheek and sighed. He leaned forward again, smoothing out the surrounding skin to examine it. The young angel wondered how he was going to hide the wounds form Michael. Not that he didn’t appreciate the elder’s protective nature, but the last time the Ihndrethan had reprimanded Kennan’s tormentors it had only served to make them vengeful and more hostile towards the rankless angel. He sighed again and leaned back. His eyes were drawn to a change of the light in the mirror. They refocused and he saw the one angel he’d just been hoping he wouldn’t have to face, standing with hands on his hips and his large wings folded back. His brows were furrowed, lips tight in concern. Kennan’s gaze met his only briefly in the reflection, before falling dejectedly to the table in front of him. Michael’s eyes and posture softened as he released his own tired sigh. “Who was it this time?” he asked, his tone sympathetic as he came to stand behind the sitting angel. He rested one hand on Kennan’s shoulder and ran the fingers of the other gently through the younger angel’s silky, pink strands. Kennan shrugged. He sat still, refusing to meet Michael’s eyes in the mirror. The Ihndrethan’s jaw dropped in exasperation. He knew Kennan didn’t want him to fight his battles for him, but he couldn’t help wanting to do something to protect the smaller angel. He calmed himself, running his palms over the other’s shoulders and upper arms, remembering that Kennan was still in need of care. Sighing, he squeezed the slight shoulders in apology and picked up the cloth that had been used to clean the bloody scrape on Ken’s forehead. Then, gripping the seat of the chair by Kennan’s thighs, he pulled him around to face him, knelt down, and began to tend the wound himself. Kennan still wouldn’t meet Michael’s eyes. The elder frowned sadly as he gently worked his way across the cuts. The silence between them lengthened. Occasionally, Kennan would wince as the cloth touched the sensitive skin, causing Michael to pause or wince himself. Michael started to wonder what actions had caused the wounds exactly. He could feel a taint of magic and the dirt in the grooves of missing of torn flesh hadn’t gotten there through contact through the ground it seemed. He mentally focused his energy on the traces of magic, outwardly still cleaning the scrape. It didn’t seem to have been an angel of any high rank, but he hadn’t expected it to be. The signature was too generic for him to trace it without alerting Kennan to his actions. He gave up and set a healing spell on the wound. Next, he gently turned Kennan’s head to examine the bruise. Kennan complied, grateful to not be facing his Ihndrethan. Michael lightly fingered the tender area before sighing once more and placing another healing spell. He guided Kennan’s head back, asking if the battered angel had any other wounds. He only got a shake of the head in response. Michael’s hands lingered at Kennan’s face as he stared into the downcast eyes, concern written all over his features. Eventually the young angel’s eyes flickered up to meet the gaze. He couldn’t explain why he felt guilty when he was the one senselessly beaten. Michael smiled thankfully as he was finally acknowledged. Then he suddenly stood, gathering Kennan into his arms and surprising him. “I was so worried when I heard you’d been attacked again! I just glad you’re not too badly hurt.” Kennan tentatively raised his hands to Michael’s shoulder blades and rested his head against on the strong chest, having to admit how safe and comforted he felt in the embrace. Michael hugged him close, holding his head with one hand, his other arm wrapped around Kennan’s torso. He brushed his lips against the shorter angel’s hair, inhaling his pleasant scent. Kennan couldn’t stop a single tear from escaping and rolling down his cheek. He squeezed his eyes shut and held tighter to Michael. He didn’t care that Kennan was rankles. The highest of all the angels in Genesis cared for him anyway. He gave way to a small sob as fear and pain and loneliness overcame him. Michael simply held him soothingly. “Shh, you’re safe now, Ken. I’m here, and no one’s going to hurt you.” He emitted another sob as he lost control of his suppressed emotions. They stood there together for some time, until Kennan’s tears had stopped and he became quiet. Michael sensed him growing numb. He lifted his hands to either side of the soft jaw and made Kennan look up into his face. Kennan saw the loving, gentle smile and the sparkling green eyes comfortingly gazing back at him. He felt a fulfilling warmth radiate through him and his tense muscles slackened. He couldn’t help but return the smile. He didn’t want Michael to worry about him. As Ihndrethan, he had enough cares to keep him busy literally forever. He was thinking how kind and sensitive and beautiful the Ihndrethan was, when Michael lowered his face to his and lightly pressed his lips to Kennan’s. After initially being caught off guard, he found he enjoyed the sensation of Michael’s soft, warm lips against his own and his steady breath against his skin. Michael felt Kennan’s lashes against his cheek as the younger angel closed his eyes and smiled, leaning up into the kiss. Something surged within the elder angel; Kennan had accepted his gift and actually seemed to pressing for more. He slid his hands down to the other’s bare waist, opening his mouth slightly to draw gently on Kennan’s lower lip. Kennan gasped slightly, lips parting, allowing Michael greater access. As Michael continued his magic, drifting his tongue along Kennan’s open lips and pressing against the slender body, Kennan’s muscles were reduced to liquid. All he could do was cling to Michael’s tight, black shirt and try to return the kiss. Michael sensed Kennan’s release and wrapped his arms around the slight waist, supporting him and holding him close. He tentatively pushed the kiss further, to be answered by Kennan’s tongue languidly winding itself around his own within Kennan’s mouth. In his elation at Kennan’s acceptance of him, the Ihndrethan’s wings spread slightly and fluttered, mirroring his emotions as they often did. The involuntary motion gave him an idea. As the two broke off the kiss for air and Michael tried not to lose himself in the half-closed, shimmering blue eyes returning his gaze, he opened his wings and let them drift forward and around to encircle the pair. Their intimate embrace was enclosed in the privacy of silky, shining white. Kennan’s face was overcome by an expression of beatific awe as he beheld his mentor in all his splendor. The feathers surrounding them reflected and enhanced every particle of light, causing the features of the white-maned angel to glow. His loving bright green orbs shone with a brilliance Kennan had never before witnessed; his skin gave off the radiance of pure energy and love. “This – this must be how you appear to humans!” he breathed. Michael’s smile grew. “Yes. Except human eyes cannot stand this light, nor their minds comprehend what the eyes tell them. Only you and God can see this.” He paused, leaning his head closer to Kennan’s. “—because I would show it to no one else. I love you, Kennan.” The younger angel stood spell-bound, tender mouth agape. A solitary tear traveled down his cheek, as he reveled in the bursting joy that someone should give him such a gift, that someone would speak these words to him – and not only someone, but the one he cared for most – the one he’d dreamed should speak those words! Michael saw and understood all of this in Kennan’s filling eyes. He pulled him to him in a tight and almost desperate embrace. The smaller angel held on just as tightly, never wanting the moment to end. All such beautiful things must come to an end, however. Finally, the two began to feel the drain from the intensity of the emotions that had raged through them and the powerful moment they had just shared. Especially after the earlier fight, Kennan started to feel the fatigue. It could not reduce the contentment he felt deep within, though, as he stayed in the Ihndrethan’s firm embrace. Michael sensed Kennan’s waning energy, just as he did all his other emotions, and folded his wings. His countenance returned to normal, he sat on the wide chair, drawing Kennan down beside him. They rested there for a while, Kennan encircled in Michael’s strong arms and cradled against his chest. He sighed happily as Michael smoothed his light-colored bangs. “Now will you tell me who did it?” Kennan so thoroughly enjoyed the reverberations of Michael’s chest beneath his good cheek that it took him a moment before the pleading question sank in. He laughed good-naturedly when it did, then nodded his assent. In the shadows outside the open door of the young angel’s dwelling stood a dark figure in a handsomely tailored white suit. The only thing one might have discerned of the figure, besides his scarred cheek, was the thoughtful narrowing of deep eyes. He took a slow draw on a cigarette as he watched the scene within in seeming objectivity. Then, blank expression unchanging, he blew out the smoke, turned, flicked away the dying embers, and casually sauntered away. |