Watching Another Prisoner.

[Deleted]

All things considered, Aixa liked to think he was handling his brother’s imminent demise pretty damn well. His own, too, if the stories of The Head of the Council’s viciousness were to be believed. He hadn’t broken down into sobs or incoherency, and he hadn’t even lost his temper. So, yes. Despite the threat of nonexistence or even an existence without his beloved Shezaan (he wasn’t sure which was worse – never existing or knowing that his soul mate had died), Aixa was determined to at least keep a stiff upper lip around his younger brother.

And if Pippa was there… well, he would certainly have to be brave around her.

That being sad, however, his dissolve dissipated alarmingly fast when Shezaan’s arms tightened around him and Aixa could just hear the sob. “Sh-Shezaan, I’m sorry,” he whispered, not able to raise his voice much more lest the lump in his throat become exceedingly obvious.

“Five minutes. Make it quick.”

“Shezzy… i-if you… if we…” he stumbled over his own words, his voice wavering as he barely held back the tears, because dammit he wasn’t going to cry. “Rouhi. I…” What could he even say? What was the proper protocol for preparing for nonexistence? “Whatever happens, you’ll always be my only.”

“I will make this right. I swear it.”

Shezaan was beginning to rise in temperature. He frowned and hugged his brother again. “I trust you, Shezzy, but please don’t get yourself killed for me. I’ll be fine on my own. But if you see Pippa, please tell her I’m sorry. She’s only here for me…”

[Deleted]

Iona made her way over to them after the five minutes was up. "I'll take you back to your room, Shezaan, but we have to go now." she said, her voice a little gentle so as not to make them sad or angry or both.

She walked over to the door and waited for him to join her before exiting. She looked around her to make sure nobody was watching, because if they were caught she'd be in so much trouble. But then again, maybe he'd take pity on her?

Iona rolled her eyes to herself. Of course he wouldn't. The Head doesn't take pity on anyone, she reminded herself.

[Deleted]

“Sh-Shezaan, I’m sorry,” he whispered, not able to raise his voice much more lest the lump in his throat become exceedingly obvious. Shezaan shook his head sadly and lifted his face to look at Aixa, his hands coming to cradle his face as he stared into the matching blue eyes. "You have nothing to be sorry about. This wasn't your fault"

“Five minutes. Make it quick.”

He looked sadly to Iona. It just wasnt enough time.. All of eternity just wasn't enough time. There were so many things left unsaid, so many things left undone, powerful emotions left unexplored. He wanted to desperately to lay before his brother and let the dark haired twin take him. But all he could to was shuddered a breath against Aixa's skin. If he was going to die, A Virgin was not how he wished to go.

“Whatever happens, you’ll always be my only.”. Shezaan smiled softly and kissed Aixa's forehead softly "And you will always be mine."

Shezaan was beginning to rise in temperature. He frowned and hugged his brother again. “I trust you, Shezzy, but please don’t get yourself killed for me. I’ll be fine on my own. But if you see Pippa, please tell her I’m sorry. She’s only here for me…”

"If I see her.. I will. I swear I will.. But now I want you to do something for me.. Please." he reached behind his neck under his flowing blond hair and unclasped his lamp's chain. With a sudden and rather intimately powerful kiss, his body pressed hard against Aixa's, pressing the ornate silver amulet into Aixa's hand. "Take it. Keep it safe. And i will always be with you, Rouhi. When this is over.." His pale cheeks flushed a bright crimson as he shuddered a soft sigh, fighting back the swell of passion tugging in his chest "When this is over, I want to join with you.. I want to be yours, Aixa"

He knew their time was well up. He shut his eyes tight as he fought back the stinging tears that welled in his eyes. "I have to go... The Head is waiting for Blue and I." He had to force himself to stand, for himself to step from Aixa's embrace.. and force himself to head towards the door where Iona kept watch. "I love you.... " was all he could say before having to leave the room, leave his precious brother behind.

[Deleted]

The pendant slipped into his hand and Aixa broke away from the kiss, his skin flushed and the blue eyes wide. Why was his brother giving him his Lamp? “Take it. Keep it safe,” his brother said. Aixa nodded slowly. It was goodbye, and even though his brother was trying to make it sound as though it were temporary, Aixa knew better than to hope for the best. It always happened when he found happiness. It was a curse of any creature – summer before winter, Elijah’s triumph met with depression, and love mixed so easily with hatred and shame, didn’t it?

He clasped it around his neck with trembling fingers, putting it underneath his shirt. The amulet pressed down on his chest. “And I will always be with you, Rouhi.” Aixa nodded again, his lips still tingling from the kisses of his brothers. “When this is over… when this is over, I want to join with you… I want to be yours, Aixa.” He clung tightly to Shezzy, burying his face in his neck and his fingers in his hair. He felt a wave of nausea as it struck him again that he was saying goodbye and it wasn’t like before when Aixa hadn’t been given a chance, and it wasn’t like before when they had separated ways a few centuries ago.

Because this was permanent and they were in love. Right...?

“I have to go…”

“No, no, no, no, Shezzy, no,” he pleaded, his breath catching in his throat as he clung to the amir tighter. “Please, you can’t. I don’t know… I’m…” He clung tighter, his shoulders trembling. “Just stay here, please, please,”

“The Head is waiting for Blue and I.”

Shezaan stood, stepping away from him. Aixa swiped at his legs, feeling his chest tighten and he was terrified. “He’s going to kill you, Shezzy! He’ll make us disappear and I’m scared and I know you are you can’t leave me,” he whimpered, wiping away his tears.

“I love you…”

And then he was gone. “No! No! Come back! Please! Shezaan!” He threw himself against the invisible barrier, the pale green energy knocking him own again. He scrambled back towards the door, slamming himself against the wall. “Come back, please. Don’t leave me, don’t leave me…”

He pulled out the amulet from under his shirt and clutched it tightly, crawling back over to the corner with the human. “I love you,” he whispered to it, kissing it gently. “Shezzy…I love you…”

[Deleted]

At the mention of a sweet and familiar name, a name that was dear to him, a soft breath escaped the man. “My Bleu”. Mattie's soft dark brow eyes fluttered open. His vision was blurred slightly and his body ached all over and he rolled onto his back with a low groan of pain and slowly tried to sit up. He placed his hand to his head and rubbed his temples, as though trying to fight off a headache. He closed his eyes, sitting at the end of the bed, his head in his hands. A few moments passed as he sat in silence before his hands slowly left his face and he looked around at his surroundings. Was he still dead? He remembered very clearly asking for Blue to end his pain and let him go peacefully. But this wasn't what he had imagined when it came to heaven.. and it was far too comfortable to be hell.. so... what happened? After sitting up, Mattie made a feeble attempt to stand but doing so caused him to become light headed and he could only slump back down to the bed with a sigh.

Perhaps it had been a dream? A strange and wonderful and bizarre dream. But no.. Mattie touched his lips, he remembered the warmth of Blue's kisses all too vividly. He reached to his neck where he had once kept Blue's lamp. It was gone. And the only reason it would be gone is if their 'contract' had been terminated. And he knew he certainly hadn’t dismissed Blue. The last final moments of his life suddenly flooded back to his mind. He had been in so much pain, the tumor in his brain had rapidly begun to metastasize inside his head causing him to hemorrhage. He very distinctly remembered begging Blue to kill him. But now here he was, alive, dizzy, and in pain. Some one had snatched him from death's embrace. But who? And why?

Mattie looked over to see another man in the small room with him, obviously distraught. Mattie chirped softly, smiling despite his throbbing head. “It's going to be fine, I think.” Even though he was a stranger, he disliked to see others upset.

[Deleted]

Iona walked along with Shezaan, taking him back to his room and making sure he was in. With a nod to the guard, she went back to Aixa's room to see the human was awake. She blinked in surprise but stayed silent.

She watched them doubtfully, before stepping into the room. "I'm going to have to lock you in the room until a guard comes to keep an eye on you." she told them, turning away.

[Deleted]

His brother wasn’t coming back, no matter how much he whispered feverishly to the Lamp in the hope that his rouhi could hear him. Even if he couldn’t, Aixa still felt much better knowing he at least some way of knowing Shezaan was okay. He rested his lips against the pendant and his forehead against his knees, his breath still coming out in shuddering gasps to call himself down. He was still so tired, and he was certain his little tantrum didn’t make things any better.

Aixa leaned forwards, still clutching the pendant tightly in his hands. “We’ll find a way out of this,” he whispered, confidently. They couldn’t disappear. He couldn’t. He couldn’t. They couldn’t. “Don’t worry.”

A low groan caught his attention, and Aixa looked up sharply towards the human. He seemed very out of sorts – it wasn’t surprising. After all, Aixa had been convinced that he was a corpse until that moment. He still held it tightly in his hands, and he rather hoped this didn’t mean he was strangling his dear brother. He looked down, worried, and loosened his grasp.

“It’s going to be fine, I think.”

Aixa crawled closer to Mattie. “You have no idea where we are,” he whispered, his eyes threatening to tear again. He shut his eyes briefly, taking a breath and gathering his strength. He smiled at the human. “Yes… yes everything will be fine. Don’t worry.” He nodded, trying to seem brave for him.

“I’m going to have to lock you in the room until a guard comes to keep an eye on you.”

Aixa widened his eyes at her. “Wait!” he called, his voice hoarse from screaming for his brother. “You’re leaving? A-A Shaytaan is going to watch us now?” he asked nervously.

[Deleted]

Mattie once again tried to force himself into a stand, with a much more successful result, this time. He wobbled uncertainly before finally correcting himself and getting his composure. He blinked curiously at the door for a moment and then back down to the strange man. He heard him whisper but didnt hear what he'd said. He chirped curiously at him "Didn't quite catch that, Monsieur."

He smiled when the other nodded in agreement that they would be fine. He made his was across the small room, unsteadily but without stumbling. The tumor in his brain was pressing against the area that affected balance and vision, but Mattie cheerfully managed, despite the complications. He touched his hand to wat looked like an open door to find some sort of barrier preventing them from leaving.

He held his breath uncertainly as he looked between the man, and the girl on the other side of the door. When the man mentioned the word "Shaytaan" Mattie squeaked with excitement. He knew that word! Blue mentioned it from time to time when he'd ask about Blue's life with wide eyed childish wonder. But the man's tone implied it was nothing to be excited about. If he remembered correctly, Blue had made it clear that Shayteen were like junk yard dogs, vicious and indiscriminate of who they hurt.

He sighed and slid down the wall and looked over at him with an uncertain sigh. "I'm Mattie.. Mattie LaRoux. What should I call you? I certainly cant say 'Hey You'.. that would be rude, non?" he chuckled softly.

[Deleted]

Iona listened for a moment, remaining where she was before she turned around, and in those few seconds, her eyes had turned from perfectly normal to lifeless; there was no spark, no sign of pity, or any other emotion. She mutely shrugged her shoulders.

After a while, she spoke. "I don't know. I'm assuming somebody will come and watch you until the Head can talk to you. But for now the only company you have is this human. Make the most of it."

"As such, don't try to think of escaping to Shezaan. You'll get hurt, in the end, and unless that is what you want, I would stay put." and with that, an emotionless Iona left the room, explaining to one of the guards the situation, with a result that the specific guard took over from her, keeping an eye on those particular prisoners.

[Deleted]

Aixa shook his head, brushing off the human’s question. What he said hadn’t been that important. He watched as the human finally stood. He lifted himself off the floor and watched him carefully. Blue was much older and could, therefore, watch over his brother better than Aixa himself. He didn’t want the human to hurt himself – because then what if Blue decided not to help Shezzy? So watching the human was the best option. He brushed himself off and followed the human to the barrier. He stayed away from it cautiously. Perhaps the effect wasn’t as strong with humans, but the Head of the Council’s energy fought with his own rather violently.

And Iona was leaving them, she was going to be replaced with Shayteen? Mattie squeaked when he said Shaytaan, and Aixa looked over at him. “Are you okay?” he asked, frowning. What was there to be so excited about? If it were the Shayteen who were to watch them, they were as good as dead.

“I don’t know. I’m assuming somebody will come and watch you until the Head can talk to you. But for now the only company you have is this human,” Iona told him. Aixa looked over at Mattie, uncomfortable with how she talked about him but not to him. He was an Amir – humans were essentially their equals, if not valued higher. But to an Ifrit? To an Ifrit a human must have been just a dime a dozen. And the Ummaar, too. “Make the most of it. As such, don’t try to think of escaping to Shezaan. You’ll get hurt, in the end, and unless that is what you want, I would stay put.”

He shook his head again. Escape to Shezaan? That would just end up in both their murders. He stroked the Lamp laying against his chest out of habit. “Okay then,” he breathed as a Shaytaan stared at the two prisoners. Aixa avoided eye contact and glanced over at Mattie as the human slid down the wall.

“I’m Mattie... Mattie LaRoux. What should I call you? I certainly can’t say ‘Hey You’… that would be rude, non?”

He bit his bottom lip uncertainly. If he were a human, he wouldn’t throw any Jinn as far as he could throw them. “It isn’t fair that I got to see my Shezaan,” Aixa said, sitting down next to Mattie and continued to rub the Lamp. “You didn’t get to see yours, did you? Red is his name, isn’t it? Or Yellow?” Aixa asked, feigning ignorance. Hey, he could play the part of a human well, couldn’t he? “Aixa Williams, by the way.”

[Deleted]

Mattie chuckled softly at the man as he tried to say Blue's name. Okay, well.. He didn't really try.. He more just rattled off colors. “Bleu!” He chirped cheerfully. Despite the dreariness of their location, Mattie was adamant that he was going to stay cheerful and not let it bother him. Blue had always seen to it that Mattie was safe. Why should this new location be any different? Mattie was certain Blue was going to come for him.

But then, that cheerful smile faltered as Mattie's memories started to flicker back.. No.. What if Blue didn’t know he was here? He was supposed to be dead. Wasn't he? That was the last thing he remembered.. dying. He shuddered at the thought and ran those thin fingers through his dark blond hair. The other man's words drew him out of his thoughts. “Aixa Williams, by the way”

Mattie tilted his head with a lighthearted smile and nodded and tried to let the name roll off his tongue. But it came out sounded more like Ay-juh, rather than Ay-shah. He smiled lightly and forced himself to stand. His head had a dull ache and he would normally reach for Blue's lamp as a source of comfort, but his little heart sank when he remembered it wasn't there.. Blue was not his any more. Because he'd died.. or.. was dead.. Mattie couldn't wrap his head around the situation. Blue had shown him a great many and wondrous things that defied all logic. But this?

“You will.. Have to forgive me.. I'm a bit out of sorts.. I am... not understanding how I am here.” his hand trembled as it went to his face, as if trying to come to terms with whether he was really here or not.

[Deleted]

Aixa chuckled as the human tried to say 'Blue'. He had seen the look on Blue's face when the Head of the Council had taken Mattie's form. And he had gotten it right. The accent, the mannerisms, and the confused smile. He felt guilty that he had been able to see Shezaan, and Blue had only seen the Head in the form of Mattie. But Iona was gone, and even if she hadn't left them, he doubted she'd be so eager to grant him another favor.

The Amir bit his bottom lip, wondering if he should say something to the poor human. But what? 'Hey, I saw your djinn! He was being a real bastard.' Yeah, because that'd go over so well. He stared at Mattie contemplatively. Would he want someone to assure him that Shezaan was coming for him? Definitely. Except Aixa was a total stranger, so why would Mattie really care about anything he had to say?

Aixa watched the human put a trembling hand on his face. "What do you mean?" Aixa asked, tilting his head curiously. "You don't understand how you're here?" What had the Head of the Council teased Blue with? That was the first time he'd held Mattie since he'd murdered the human? But clearly Blue hadn't murdered Mattie, if he was there. "And yeah... uh, I think everyone is kind of confused why the Head brought us here."

He rubbed his arm, watching Mattie. "Yellow isn't going to let them hurt you," he said. "He's gone all..." Aixa wriggled his fingers and made a growling noise. "On 'em. I mean, he's killing everyone for you. I mean, I think it's for you. But you aren't his master. He had his Lamp. So... what are you, then?" Aixa asked curiously.

[Deleted]

"Yellow isn't going to let them hurt you, He's gone all..." Aixa wriggled his fingers and made a growling noise. "On 'em.”

Mattie looked up at Aixa, obviously a bit confused. “Qua? What do you mean?” He always remembered Blue being such a gentle soul. He would never hurt anyone. Right? But as the other man continued, he felt a knot in his stomach. “I mean, he's killing everyone for you. I mean, I think it's for you.” Mattie shook his head, refusing to belive something like that. Blue wouldn't.. Would he? “You.. “ he hesitated, fighting to keep speaking English. “Non.. You.. You must be mistaken. Bleu.. My Bleu.. He wouldn't”

“But you aren't his master. He had his Lamp. So... what are you, then?"

Mattie clutched at his neck where he had worn Blue's lamp faithfully for nine years. It was a sudden slap in the face that what he originally thought... was no dream. He was not meant to be here at all. Mattie was supposed to be dead. His beloved Blue had ended his pain, exactly as he had asked him. But now was not the time to be melancholy. Mattie was notorious for his chipper and upbeat nature. He wasn't about to let this sudden realization shatter his sunny disposition.

Mattie looked up at Aixa with a bright smile and slowly pushed to his feet, using the wall for support. “Bleu is my Lover” he announced, unashamed and with a sentimental glow in his voice. “And.. I'm supposed to be dead. I asked Bleu to see to that. So... Maybe this is like.. some Christmas Miracle, oui? It's not often one gets second chances! So.. Now.. I wonder who do I have to thank?”

[Deleted]

Iblîs was not in the best of moods. It had quite a lot to do with disobedient Jinn, the Reaper’s moodiness at seeing his ex-wife (Iblîs refused to acknowledge her by any other name), and his own uncertainty. Eliminating Solomon was a trifle matter; the Lords of Time only served as a back-up plan. But if he did eliminate Solomon... then there was the pesky issue of paradox. He didn’t mind that at all, he had caused a few of them himself.

What he did mind was the possibility of never meeting Armand. Iblîs gritted his teeth, annoyed. He already knew that he wasn’t going to go through with the plan to defeat Solomon; there were just too many things that could go wrong. He put his hand over his chest and let a sigh escape his lips. Idiot.

Bleu is my Lover.

Iblîs scoffed at his nephew’s ‘name’. He stood in the doorway, watching the human with a sneer. He’d never understand why “Blue” chose this human, if he had to choose a human. There was nothing special or even particularly attractive about him. A Christmas Miracle? Iblîs narrowed pale eyes at the mention of the human holiday.

And the human wasn’t particularly smart.

“You can thank me,” Iblîs said, pushing himself off the doorway. Aixa immediately scrambled away from him, and he raised an eyebrow. “No need to be afraid of me, little Amirling,” he said, his tone kind. His expression had remained the same - cynical, detached, and condescending. His eyes turned to Mattie. “As for you, human, you’re to come with me.”

“No! He hasn’t done anything to you!” Aixa argued.

Iblîs’ eyes narrowed and Aixa crumbled to the ground. He shook his head at his nephew and turned his attention back to the human. “Now,” he said, turning and leading Mattie from the room.

[Deleted]

“You can thank me,”

Mattie spun around with a bright smile on his face but it seemed to falter, only slightly mind you, when he saw the little kid. Normally Mattie was a cheerful man who saw the good in everything around him no matter how bleak the circumstances.. Something about this little boy seemed to be physically sapping the energy and happiness from him. And that was saying something because Mattie hardly every let anything get him down. But what made Mattie's skin crawl was the almost violent reaction from Aixa as he scrambled away from the boy. “Monsieur Williams?”

“No need to be afraid of me, little Amirling,”

There was a pause from him. He knew that word. Blue had mentioned it a few times when describing the different races of Jinn. Amirling... a young Amir. Bright brown eyes widened in realization and a spark of fascination. “You're like Bleu! You're a jinn too?” he asked excitedly, waving his arms almost forgetting about the creepy child who was now behind him..

“As for you, human, you’re to come with me.” And there went the happy feeling. Mattie slowly turned to face the boy.

“No! He hasn’t done anything to you!” Aixa argued.

“Non, non, It's alright, Mister Aixa” he chirped, still mispronouncing the name slightly, but it was a vast improvement from his first attempt. He opened his mouth to utter up some reassurance that he would be just fine but that cold and indifferent voice cut him off rather sharply. “Now,”

Mattie offered his most blithe smile and stuffed his hands into his pockets and went to follow the boy before pausing. “Oh wait!! I need something first” he chuckled and made his way back to the bed where he'd laid before, using the wall for support to compensate for his lack of balance. The fedora that Blue had granted him the first night they met. Mattie just couldn't bring himself to just leave it... Especially if He and Blue were no longer together. It was Mattie's only link to Blue now and in a way, it was comforting. He gripped the hat tightly in his hands, much the same way he would have grasped Blue's lamp when he was feeling anxious. “Alright.. I'm ready”