The Glass House: Chapter Six
Feb. 16th, 2008 11:58 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
wolfanficsTitle: The Glass House
Author: Sashataakheru
Beta: The wonderfulrana_narsilion <3
Fandom: The Chaser/AusComedy RPS
Starring: Adam Hills, Sepulchre (OC), Wil Anderson, Hamish Blake, Craig Reucassel, Tim Minchin, Julian Morrow, Chas Licciardello, Charles Firth, Chris Taylor, Andrew Hansen, Caleb (OC), Dr Rachel Hardy (OC), Antoinette Laurent (OC), Dr Samantha Reddings (OC), Dominic Knight, Shane Cubis, Gregor Stronach, Tim Brunero, Andy Lee
Pairings: Andrew/Chris; Adam/Hamish; Jules/Chas; Rachel/Antoinette(/Samantha); Adam/Seb; Adam/Wil; Craig/Caleb; Adam/Wil/Tim; Andrew/Craig, Wil/Chas;
Word Count: 4,395
Chapter: 6/28 [Previous]
Warnings: violence, gore, smut, bondage themes, swearing, angst, Craig being an irritating prick,
Rating: FRAO
Disclaimer: I don’t know them, not associated with them, just a slashy fangirl admirer with a very active imagination.
Author’s Notes: FYI, fullwing = winged human capable of flight. Halfwing = fullwing/human halfbreed, usually unable to fly, sometimes have vestigial wings, but can be removed to pass as human and not as winged.
Summary: Adam pays his last respects, Andy can't stay away from Hamish, and things begin to look up.
Chapter Six
Adam drove. He thought about flying, but he was tired and needed to recharge before doing another long-haul flight again. He wasn’t sure what he’d find when he arrived at his destination, but he had to find out if it was still there. He knew the route so well he drove without being conscious of where he was going.
By the time the car stopped, he’d arrived. He got out finding the house where Seb used to live. It was an old once-grand two-storey house, now seemingly abandoned. Adam grabbed the sword and looked around; making sure no one else was around. Thankfully, the other houses looked as run down as this house. Must be another abandoned part of the city. There were a lot of areas like this around the place, the people forced from their homes because the areas were ‘unclean’ – whatever that meant. Temples, shrines, and churches not of the officially sanctioned religion were torn down and burnt. Other offending buildings and organisations were shut down. The houses of convicted traitors were razed to the ground and destroyed.
Adam headed around the back of the house, pushing through the heavily overgrown garden to a small Japanese style building hidden by a couple of huge Japanese cherry trees. It was still there after all these years. Seb’s family shrine to the local kami [god] that was part of the land their house was built on. Seb had taught him a lot about Shinto, grooming him and teaching him how to keep the shrine going if he was ever killed. He could still faintly smell the incense in the air that they’d burnt here so long ago. Once the State enforced the one religion on the people, Seb had told Adam to stay away from the shrine, lest it be discovered. Adam hadn’t gone to the shrine for years, and he was sure Seb hadn’t visited it either, but neither had forgotten about it.
The red paint on the torii [gate] was cracked and peeling off, the stone lions guarding it covered in moss. Adam gazed up at the torii before bowing once to each pillar and walking through it towards the shrine. The font he and Seb used to use to purify themselves before they entered was depressingly empty and filled with leaves in spite of the small roof covering it.
Adam wanted to cry at the neglected shrine, but didn’t. He had feared that there wouldn’t be any water to purify himself with before he entered. Then he noticed a small bucket on the porch. He found it was filled with water that looked relatively clean. It seemed like the shrine had been expecting him. He grabbed the small bucket and rinsed his mouth and hands, actions he’d done many times before.
Taking the sword in hand again, he climbed the few stairs to the shrine, trying not to be overcome with emotion. Leaving his shoes outside, he pushed the shrine doors open reverently, the air still smelling like incense. He stepped forward, stopping just before he reached the point where the honden [sanctuary] started, the place where the kami was housed. He hesitated. He’d never been allowed into the honden. Seb said he wasn’t ready. But Seb was gone now. Perhaps now he was ready. With a deep breath, he stepped across the tattered rope into the sanctuary, still clutching the sword tightly.
The sense of calm he felt as he entered the sanctuary was astounding. He’d never been in here before, but it smelt like Seb, and the kami that lived here. He wasn’t sure he could even describe that, but that’s what it was. He knelt before the nave where the kami’s sacred object was housed, placing Seb’s sword on the floor before it. He’d never seen the sacred object, but Seb had told him it was a shield that had been found on the land before the house had been built. Adam didn’t dare open the shrine’s doors now. But he was feeling the pull to meditate and found himself slipping into another time. Soon, he was lying unconscious on the sanctuary floor, his mind elsewhere.
“Strike it properly! Do it like I showed you! You have a strong sword arm and I expect you to use it!” Seb’s voice said.
“But, I don’t-” Adam found himself replying, not seeing another version of himself in the vision. He suddenly realised he was holding Seb’s sword. He never got to practice with Seb’s sword. He was never allowed to.
“Rubbish. I haven’t been wasting my time on you for this long. Again, Akihito,” Seb said.
Adam cringed at the name Seb only ever called him during training before he found himself striking out at the target again, beginning to remember the hours Seb made him practice this particular exercise. Over and over again Adam struck at the target until Seb was satisfied.
“Good. You still remember how to fight. You’ll need all your skills if you want our plan to succeed,” Seb said walking towards him.
“Our plan? What are you talking about?” Adam said.
“Wil knows. He’ll tell you when you get back,” Seb said with a grin.
“Why not tell me now?” Adam said.
“Because it would take longer than is safe for you,” Seb said.
“What?” Adam said, not understanding why he was unsafe.
“You think your car wasn’t noticed coming into the area? We haven’t got long. Soon they’ll find it, and the shrine will finally be destroyed. You have to take the kami’s shield with you. She needs to be safe. She’s guarded our family for centuries. She’s now your guardian. Take the shinza with you too. Everything else can be destroyed and rebuilt. You need to fly out of here. The car will be taken and impounded, or most likely destroyed. You understand now why you aren’t safe?” Seb said.
“Yeah, but I had to see you, had to say goodbye,” Adam said.
“You’ve always risked everything to see me, haven’t you?” Seb said, teasing him.
“It’s worth every risk just to see you,” Adam said.
“My little Anael. You never left me, did you?” Seb said, now standing inches away from Adam. He brushed a finger down Adam’s cheek, smiling at him.
“I couldn’t leave you,” Adam whispered, pressing against Seb, the sword falling to the floor. Adam held onto him, not wanting to let him go. “I’ll miss you.”
“I’ll always be with you,” Seb said.
“But not physically,” Adam said.
“Oh, I doubt you’ll forget me that easily. Hey, stop looking so depressed. We have a rebellion to plan,” Seb said, cupping Adam’s face with his hands, making their eyes meet.
“If you say so.”
“You give up now, they’ll never be overthrown. I need you to fight for me. Lead them. They will follow you,” Seb said.
“Can we… Can I love you one last time?” Adam said, leaning his head against Seb’s shoulder.
“If the kami allows it,” Seb said simply.
“And how can we find out?” Adam said, desperate to be with him.
“Watch,” Seb said, glancing up at the sky.
Adam looked up, seeing a small sparrow flitting around. The bird flies closer to them, circling, twittering, seemingly the most innocent of things. As the bird approaches them, its form changes, becoming a beautiful Japanese woman, glowing with beautiful light. She reaches her hands up to cup the backs of their heads, blowing air over them before vanishing again in a burst of light.
“Uh, what was that?” Adam said once he felt able to speak.
Seb didn’t reply, instead kissing Adam hard as he pulled their bodies close. Adam had his answer. So the kami was going to watch over them. Adam thought that sounded a bit odd, but he didn’t care. He had his chance to be with Seb one last time. He wasn’t going to waste it. He didn’t care that their bodies were just figments of light and spirit. They were solid and real enough for their purposes. Not that Adam cared about anything remotely spiritual at that moment. He was too busy being pushed into the ground by Seb, who was frantically stripping them both.
The ground was cold and earthy but firm, giving the sense that their environment was real. The soil against Adam’s skin felt wonderful, as did Seb pressing on top of him, giving him everything one last time. Adam’s wings helped cushion him, soft white feathers caressing his skin. The sensation was erotic all in itself, especially with Seb’s wings brushing against his chest. Adam had forgotten just how erotic Seb could make his wings.
Seb paused from kissing Adam’s neck, stroking his cheek gently as he gazed into his eyes.
“This has to be quick, even with the kami’s protection,” Seb said.
“I don’t care. I need this,” Adam said.
“Then here I come,” Seb said, not wasting any further time with foreplay as he pushed inside Adam.
Adam had never felt so connected to Seb. The friction of their bodies rubbing together, their wings brushing their hot skin, the way they moved together, it was as if they were becoming one being. There was so much heat, energy, pleasure, everything felt so intense. Adam pushed hard against Seb’s movements, wanting this last time to be the best. Every stroke, every thrust, brought a wave of pleasure more intense than the last.
Seb fanned his wings so gently Adam wasn’t sure he saw them move, but the soft gust of air gently touching his hot skin told him otherwise. The gentle cooling air was a striking contrast to the heat radiating from their bodies. Adam wasn’t sure how much time had passed. He didn’t care. He didn’t want this moment to end.
Everything was coming together so perfectly, building up inside him so much he thought he’d burst. Seb closing a fist around him made him yelp, pushing him over that point of no return. He felt his eyes close as he came, feeling Seb’s body melting into his.
‘Remember me. I’m in you as you are in me. Take the shield and go, my little Anael,’ Seb whispered, his voice fading into nothingness.
And with that, Adam woke, opening his eyes to find himself lying painfully on his back, his wings at an awkward angle. He lay there for a minute; images of what he just saw were swimming around his head. The faint sound of sirens pulled him out of his thoughts. He got to his feet, grabbed the sword and the shinza the shield was in and left the shrine, leaving his shoes behind as he took off into the sky, flying towards the safe haven again as fast as he could, wanting to avoid being seen near the old house.
Andy found himself driving into the suburbs instead of going to work like he was supposed to. He couldn't get Hamish out of his head. It wasn't enough to know he was alright. He wanted to know what had happened. He didn't really have a plan in mind, just that he'd drive around and look for places that looked like they could be hidden in. He had never been allowed to know the whereabouts of the safe havens in case his connection to the rebellion was discovered by his superiors and they decided to torture the information out of him. Although if Hamish was with Adam, he was probably alright. Adam wouldn't let him get hurt.
He drove past abandoned houses, the charred remains of temples, churches and buildings burnt because they were impure, and the run-down houses the rest of the population lived in. The gap between rich and poor was almost insurmountable by now. If you weren't fit enough for the Army, and you could get no other work, you were doomed to starve. On the far borders of suburbia, hundreds of shanty towns had sprung up as the poorest of the poor were evicted from their houses and forced to fend for themselves.
The farmers had been the worst off. Severe drought had hit them hard, and those not able to afford new equipment and the newest crops that were drought-resistant, were forced off the land and their farms repossessed. There was only so much food that could be produced from the already-barren land, which sent food prices soaring as food was imported from overseas to feed the people. Very few had cars now, as they couldn't afford to buy them, nor afford the petrol required to run them. The Government had seized most of the petrol reserves early into its run to feed the vast array of Armed Forces vehicles that required it to run. Only the privileged few drove cars now, and those who knew how to steal petrol.
Andy stopped his car outside one of the restricted zones. This one was an old industrial area filled with empty warehouses and other such abandoned buildings. It had been abandoned at the State's request and no one was allowed to enter them. Some restricted zones had no buildings at all as they'd all been razed to the ground, but some still stood in some areas. There were rumours floating around that buildings still standing in restricted zones had been poisoned to kill anyone who entered them, but Andy wasn't quite convinced this was true.
He got out and looked around. He was in his patrol car and in uniform. He hadn't bothered to change, and he knew it would get him into areas he wouldn't be able to get into in civilian clothes. It was also easier to write it off as work-related. Though he knew perfectly well no one patrolled the restricted zones. No one wanted to, not when they were so obviously devoid of life. The soldiers didn't want to enter them in case the rumours of the poisoned buildings were true, and they were never given protective gear anyway, so why risk it? Andy had a suspicion that if these safe havens were going to be anywhere, they'd be in one of the restricted zones, as you could pretty much guarantee you'd never be found.
Surveying the buildings, Andy saw no sign of life in any of them. There no fire pits, no vehicles, no sound at all. If there were people living here, they were very good at not being seen. Locking his car, he headed towards the first building, just to see if things were as lifeless as they appeared.
The door he came to was rusted and broken. It took some force to pry it open. He pulled his gun in case he had to defend himself, took a deep breath, and headed inside.
He found himself in a long, narrow corridor. There were no doors or windows that he could see. He walked down it, following it to see where it might lead to. The sound of hushed voices drew him closer, and he left the corridor into a large room enclosed in darkness. Dirty faces turned to look at him as he entered. The sight of his uniform sent them into fearful silence.
“Wow. There are people in here after all,” Andy said, putting his gun away.
A crotchety old woman approached him, pointing a crooked finger at him. “You try and remove us and we'll slaughter every last one of you miserable pigs,” she warned.
“I wouldn't do that. Besides, I'm here alone, and I'm off-duty. None of this will get to my superiors. I know how important these places are to you,” Andy said.
“So why are you here then?” she said spitefully.
“I'm looking for a friend of mine. Do you know if there are any fullwings around here? He was with one of them when I last saw him,” Andy said.
“No, there be no fullwings around here. What do you know of them anyway?” the woman said.
“I'm an ally of theirs,” Andy said simply, lost for anything else to say.
“Prove it,” the woman hissed, looking at him with angry eyes.
“How should I prove it? I've been helping them escape police capture for years, ever since I joined the force. My best friend, the one I'm looking for, he's gone missing. He had a couple of fullwings living with him, and I very strongly suspect it was those fullwings who killed a couple of cops that were found in my friend's flat. Now they're all gone and I need to find them to make sure they're alright,” Andy said, opting for honesty.
“Huh. You'll be lucky to find them now. There are 53 restricted zones in New South Wales alone. They could be in any one of them, or even none of them. Good luck. You'll need it,” the woman said.
“You can't help me?” Andy said.
“We're just leftovers here, rejects from society. We don't belong to anyone but ourselves. Now get out!” the woman said.
“Wait! You're looking for fullwings? I think I can help you,” said another woman, much younger. She walked over to Andy and he could see the tiny vestigial wings marking her as a halfwing. She must never have been able to afford to buy her citizenship and have her wings removed.
“You can? Are there any around here?” Andy said.
“There are if you know where to look. They're even more secretive than us, and you won't just walk into the buildings they're hiding in either. Once you enter their safe havens, you won't leave. It's too risky to leave. If you're important to them on the outside, I suggest you stop looking for them. I can pass a message to them if you like,” the young woman offered.
“I don't know how important I am. I've never been able to contact them directly. I was always told to go through my friend, the one I'm looking for. He knows how to contact the fullwings. I don't, hence I'm looking for them. I need to know he's alright,” Andy said.
“Are you willing to risk your job, your home, everything, to find them? You'll become a fugitive like your friend, and be unable to return to the outside world. I take it you're human. Your citizenship will be void, you'll be dishonourably discharged from the Army. If they find you, they'll arrest you and shut you in prison. Do you still want to find them?” the young woman asked.
“Yes. I won't rest until I know he's alright. Please, I've known him since childhood, and this is the first time he's vanished when I don't know where he's gone,” Andy said, pleading for help.
The young woman considered him. “Alright, I'll take you to them, but you're changing first. I won't lead a soldier around here and risk getting myself killed,” she said. “Come with me.”
Andy followed her, seeing the old woman scowling at him as he left. The young woman led him into another part of the warehouse.
“This used to be an old clothing manufacturing place, and no one bothered clearing out the storehouse before they left, so we've got plenty of clothes. I'll find you something boring to wear. Leave your uniform here. I'll have it destroyed,” she said as she began clambering up the large boxes to find something for him to wear.
Andy stood there and waited for her to return, stripping off in order to change more quickly. She threw some clothes down to him. He picked them off the floor and looked over at them. They were definitely old clothes. No one wore things like this anymore.
She clambered down again, clutching a few more items she thought he might like. “Sorry for bringing you so much. I wasn't sure what you'd like. Oh, and I'm Ruby. I should've introduced myself earlier,” she said, handing him the clothes.
“I'm Andy,” Andy said, picking through the small selection of clothes until he'd found something he liked.
“Take nothing with you. We'll have the patrol car and a fake corpse torched to fake your death to avoid anyone looking for you. That's why we need your uniform, including your shoes. Everything must look proper or they'll suspect foul play. Now get dressed. We have to get moving,” Ruby said.
Andy nodded his understanding as he picked out the least ugly of the clothes she'd brought for him. She picked out a pair of black boots for him as well and once dressed to Ruby's satisfaction, she finally agreed to take Andy to the fullwings.
Just as they left the warehouse, Ruby grabbed his arm and pulled him down behind some old wooden crates, holding a hand over his mouth to silence him.
“Shh! Choppers! Stay still and quiet!” she hissed to him.
The minutes passed in tense silence as they heard the choppers approach and finally disappear. Only when there was silence did Ruby let him up.
“Methinks they're getting smarter. Now, come with me. We have a long way to travel,” Ruby said, grabbing his arm again as she led him away.
Ruby led Andy to another smaller warehouse, which Andy soon discovered was a stable. There were many horses penned up in there, as well as some expensive and not-so-expensive looking gear.
“You know how to ride, yes?” Ruby said as she went to one of the stalls.
“Yeah, it was one of the first things they taught us after I enlisted,” Andy said.
“Good. Then I will not have to teach you anything. Go, pick a horse. It is vital you have a mount that likes you. Be quick about it. We must set out before sunset,” Ruby said.
Andy nodded and made his way along the stalls, greeting each of the horses in order to find the one best suited to him. Eleven horses later, he found her. She was a beautiful chestnut brown mare with lovely eyes. Stroking her nose affectionately, Andy smiled at her and greeted her.
Ruby soon came up to them, leading her own horse. “Her name is Marriá. Good gentle soul. Tack her up then. We need to get going. I'm assuming you know how to do that without being told, yes?” she said.
“Of course. Just show me where everything is and I can do the rest,” Andy said.
Ruby led the way, opening the stall gate and watching the brown mare follow Andy obediently as they headed towards the other end of the stables.
“How long a journey is this going to be?” Andy said.
“Two days, perhaps longer. We will be galloping, so pick your saddle wisely,” Ruby said. “Do you know how to hunt with these?” She showed him a basic hunting bow and a quiver of arrows, slick and deadly.
“I haven't used them for years, not since I was a kid. We catching our own food along the way?” Andy said.
“Yes, it is more efficient, and we can carry less. Makes travelling faster. Come,” she said as Andy finished getting his mare ready.
Leading their horses out of the stable, they mounted them and tore off into the darkening night, leaving the restricted zone far behind.
Adam didn’t look back, and didn’t stop until he arrived back at the haven, being mindful of not being caught. It was nearing dusk as he touched down at last, making his way inside the warehouse again. He headed straight for Wil’s room, finding him lounging on the bed, studying what looked like charts or maps.
“I'm back now. Did you miss me?” Adam said, leaning against the doorframe.
Wil looked up from the maps before him. “Yeah, I did. So did Hamish. You ok now?” he said.
“Yeah. I’m… better now. How are things progressing? Seb said you had a plan,” Adam said, coming to perch on the bed beside Wil.
“Yeah, we’ve been working on it for months now. I’ve got some of the boys off sourcing the things we’ll need. We need to strike soon. Leave it too long and we’ll all be gone before we have a chance to fight back. The Glass House is now our training arena. Everyone fights or we all die. We can’t afford to have people not fighting now. We haven’t got enough of a force to let a few not fight. Everyone has to do their bit. I’ve organised training sessions for those that want them. I said you’d be teaching them. That ok? Just I thought with Seb training you and all, there’d be no one better for the job,” Wil said.
“I’d be happy to train them. It’d be good to put Seb’s training to good use. When do we start?” Adam said.
“As soon as you’re ready. I didn’t want to set an exact date until you came back. What’s in the box, if you don’t mind me asking?” Wil said.
“Oh, it's just… something Seb wanted me to have, that’s all. It’s-”
“Wil, oh, sorry to interrupt, but Jules has something you might want to hear. There are a couple of geneticists here who might have something that could swing the battle in our favour,” Craig said, sticking his head into the bedroom. “Hey Adam. Man, sorry about Seb, hey? That was far too cruel for words. You doing ok?” he said, seeing Adam in the room as well.
“Yeah, as well as can be expected. What’s this about geneticists?” Adam said.
“I’m not sure of the details, but they made something they said might help us,” Craig said.
“You sure they’re on our side, and not some Government spooks trying to infiltrate our ranks?” Wil said.
“We checked them out three times. Timmy insisted. They’re safe. Besides, they were arrested and imprisoned several months ago for not agreeing with Government policy. They were smuggled out a few weeks ago and now they’re in need of protection in exchange for whatever help they can give. At least come and see them,” Craig said.
“Alright, but you know Adam’s in charge now, yeah?” Wil said.
“Yeah? Ah, you’ve got his sword, I see. Well, no one better, really. Come on, they’re waiting for you,” Craig said.
“Just let me put this away and I’ll be right there. Go ahead Wil, won’t be long,” Adam said, gesturing to the shinza.
“Alright. Whatever you want,” Wil said.
Author: Sashataakheru
Beta: The wonderful
rana_narsilion <3Fandom: The Chaser/AusComedy RPS
Starring: Adam Hills, Sepulchre (OC), Wil Anderson, Hamish Blake, Craig Reucassel, Tim Minchin, Julian Morrow, Chas Licciardello, Charles Firth, Chris Taylor, Andrew Hansen, Caleb (OC), Dr Rachel Hardy (OC), Antoinette Laurent (OC), Dr Samantha Reddings (OC), Dominic Knight, Shane Cubis, Gregor Stronach, Tim Brunero, Andy Lee
Pairings: Andrew/Chris; Adam/Hamish; Jules/Chas; Rachel/Antoinette(/Samantha); Adam/Seb; Adam/Wil; Craig/Caleb; Adam/Wil/Tim; Andrew/Craig, Wil/Chas;
Word Count: 4,395
Chapter: 6/28 [Previous]
Warnings: violence, gore, smut, bondage themes, swearing, angst, Craig being an irritating prick,
Rating: FRAO
Disclaimer: I don’t know them, not associated with them, just a slashy fangirl admirer with a very active imagination.
Author’s Notes: FYI, fullwing = winged human capable of flight. Halfwing = fullwing/human halfbreed, usually unable to fly, sometimes have vestigial wings, but can be removed to pass as human and not as winged.
Summary: Adam pays his last respects, Andy can't stay away from Hamish, and things begin to look up.
Chapter Six
Adam drove. He thought about flying, but he was tired and needed to recharge before doing another long-haul flight again. He wasn’t sure what he’d find when he arrived at his destination, but he had to find out if it was still there. He knew the route so well he drove without being conscious of where he was going.
By the time the car stopped, he’d arrived. He got out finding the house where Seb used to live. It was an old once-grand two-storey house, now seemingly abandoned. Adam grabbed the sword and looked around; making sure no one else was around. Thankfully, the other houses looked as run down as this house. Must be another abandoned part of the city. There were a lot of areas like this around the place, the people forced from their homes because the areas were ‘unclean’ – whatever that meant. Temples, shrines, and churches not of the officially sanctioned religion were torn down and burnt. Other offending buildings and organisations were shut down. The houses of convicted traitors were razed to the ground and destroyed.
Adam headed around the back of the house, pushing through the heavily overgrown garden to a small Japanese style building hidden by a couple of huge Japanese cherry trees. It was still there after all these years. Seb’s family shrine to the local kami [god] that was part of the land their house was built on. Seb had taught him a lot about Shinto, grooming him and teaching him how to keep the shrine going if he was ever killed. He could still faintly smell the incense in the air that they’d burnt here so long ago. Once the State enforced the one religion on the people, Seb had told Adam to stay away from the shrine, lest it be discovered. Adam hadn’t gone to the shrine for years, and he was sure Seb hadn’t visited it either, but neither had forgotten about it.
The red paint on the torii [gate] was cracked and peeling off, the stone lions guarding it covered in moss. Adam gazed up at the torii before bowing once to each pillar and walking through it towards the shrine. The font he and Seb used to use to purify themselves before they entered was depressingly empty and filled with leaves in spite of the small roof covering it.
Adam wanted to cry at the neglected shrine, but didn’t. He had feared that there wouldn’t be any water to purify himself with before he entered. Then he noticed a small bucket on the porch. He found it was filled with water that looked relatively clean. It seemed like the shrine had been expecting him. He grabbed the small bucket and rinsed his mouth and hands, actions he’d done many times before.
Taking the sword in hand again, he climbed the few stairs to the shrine, trying not to be overcome with emotion. Leaving his shoes outside, he pushed the shrine doors open reverently, the air still smelling like incense. He stepped forward, stopping just before he reached the point where the honden [sanctuary] started, the place where the kami was housed. He hesitated. He’d never been allowed into the honden. Seb said he wasn’t ready. But Seb was gone now. Perhaps now he was ready. With a deep breath, he stepped across the tattered rope into the sanctuary, still clutching the sword tightly.
The sense of calm he felt as he entered the sanctuary was astounding. He’d never been in here before, but it smelt like Seb, and the kami that lived here. He wasn’t sure he could even describe that, but that’s what it was. He knelt before the nave where the kami’s sacred object was housed, placing Seb’s sword on the floor before it. He’d never seen the sacred object, but Seb had told him it was a shield that had been found on the land before the house had been built. Adam didn’t dare open the shrine’s doors now. But he was feeling the pull to meditate and found himself slipping into another time. Soon, he was lying unconscious on the sanctuary floor, his mind elsewhere.
“Strike it properly! Do it like I showed you! You have a strong sword arm and I expect you to use it!” Seb’s voice said.
“But, I don’t-” Adam found himself replying, not seeing another version of himself in the vision. He suddenly realised he was holding Seb’s sword. He never got to practice with Seb’s sword. He was never allowed to.
“Rubbish. I haven’t been wasting my time on you for this long. Again, Akihito,” Seb said.
Adam cringed at the name Seb only ever called him during training before he found himself striking out at the target again, beginning to remember the hours Seb made him practice this particular exercise. Over and over again Adam struck at the target until Seb was satisfied.
“Good. You still remember how to fight. You’ll need all your skills if you want our plan to succeed,” Seb said walking towards him.
“Our plan? What are you talking about?” Adam said.
“Wil knows. He’ll tell you when you get back,” Seb said with a grin.
“Why not tell me now?” Adam said.
“Because it would take longer than is safe for you,” Seb said.
“What?” Adam said, not understanding why he was unsafe.
“You think your car wasn’t noticed coming into the area? We haven’t got long. Soon they’ll find it, and the shrine will finally be destroyed. You have to take the kami’s shield with you. She needs to be safe. She’s guarded our family for centuries. She’s now your guardian. Take the shinza with you too. Everything else can be destroyed and rebuilt. You need to fly out of here. The car will be taken and impounded, or most likely destroyed. You understand now why you aren’t safe?” Seb said.
“Yeah, but I had to see you, had to say goodbye,” Adam said.
“You’ve always risked everything to see me, haven’t you?” Seb said, teasing him.
“It’s worth every risk just to see you,” Adam said.
“My little Anael. You never left me, did you?” Seb said, now standing inches away from Adam. He brushed a finger down Adam’s cheek, smiling at him.
“I couldn’t leave you,” Adam whispered, pressing against Seb, the sword falling to the floor. Adam held onto him, not wanting to let him go. “I’ll miss you.”
“I’ll always be with you,” Seb said.
“But not physically,” Adam said.
“Oh, I doubt you’ll forget me that easily. Hey, stop looking so depressed. We have a rebellion to plan,” Seb said, cupping Adam’s face with his hands, making their eyes meet.
“If you say so.”
“You give up now, they’ll never be overthrown. I need you to fight for me. Lead them. They will follow you,” Seb said.
“Can we… Can I love you one last time?” Adam said, leaning his head against Seb’s shoulder.
“If the kami allows it,” Seb said simply.
“And how can we find out?” Adam said, desperate to be with him.
“Watch,” Seb said, glancing up at the sky.
Adam looked up, seeing a small sparrow flitting around. The bird flies closer to them, circling, twittering, seemingly the most innocent of things. As the bird approaches them, its form changes, becoming a beautiful Japanese woman, glowing with beautiful light. She reaches her hands up to cup the backs of their heads, blowing air over them before vanishing again in a burst of light.
“Uh, what was that?” Adam said once he felt able to speak.
Seb didn’t reply, instead kissing Adam hard as he pulled their bodies close. Adam had his answer. So the kami was going to watch over them. Adam thought that sounded a bit odd, but he didn’t care. He had his chance to be with Seb one last time. He wasn’t going to waste it. He didn’t care that their bodies were just figments of light and spirit. They were solid and real enough for their purposes. Not that Adam cared about anything remotely spiritual at that moment. He was too busy being pushed into the ground by Seb, who was frantically stripping them both.
The ground was cold and earthy but firm, giving the sense that their environment was real. The soil against Adam’s skin felt wonderful, as did Seb pressing on top of him, giving him everything one last time. Adam’s wings helped cushion him, soft white feathers caressing his skin. The sensation was erotic all in itself, especially with Seb’s wings brushing against his chest. Adam had forgotten just how erotic Seb could make his wings.
Seb paused from kissing Adam’s neck, stroking his cheek gently as he gazed into his eyes.
“This has to be quick, even with the kami’s protection,” Seb said.
“I don’t care. I need this,” Adam said.
“Then here I come,” Seb said, not wasting any further time with foreplay as he pushed inside Adam.
Adam had never felt so connected to Seb. The friction of their bodies rubbing together, their wings brushing their hot skin, the way they moved together, it was as if they were becoming one being. There was so much heat, energy, pleasure, everything felt so intense. Adam pushed hard against Seb’s movements, wanting this last time to be the best. Every stroke, every thrust, brought a wave of pleasure more intense than the last.
Seb fanned his wings so gently Adam wasn’t sure he saw them move, but the soft gust of air gently touching his hot skin told him otherwise. The gentle cooling air was a striking contrast to the heat radiating from their bodies. Adam wasn’t sure how much time had passed. He didn’t care. He didn’t want this moment to end.
Everything was coming together so perfectly, building up inside him so much he thought he’d burst. Seb closing a fist around him made him yelp, pushing him over that point of no return. He felt his eyes close as he came, feeling Seb’s body melting into his.
‘Remember me. I’m in you as you are in me. Take the shield and go, my little Anael,’ Seb whispered, his voice fading into nothingness.
And with that, Adam woke, opening his eyes to find himself lying painfully on his back, his wings at an awkward angle. He lay there for a minute; images of what he just saw were swimming around his head. The faint sound of sirens pulled him out of his thoughts. He got to his feet, grabbed the sword and the shinza the shield was in and left the shrine, leaving his shoes behind as he took off into the sky, flying towards the safe haven again as fast as he could, wanting to avoid being seen near the old house.
Andy found himself driving into the suburbs instead of going to work like he was supposed to. He couldn't get Hamish out of his head. It wasn't enough to know he was alright. He wanted to know what had happened. He didn't really have a plan in mind, just that he'd drive around and look for places that looked like they could be hidden in. He had never been allowed to know the whereabouts of the safe havens in case his connection to the rebellion was discovered by his superiors and they decided to torture the information out of him. Although if Hamish was with Adam, he was probably alright. Adam wouldn't let him get hurt.
He drove past abandoned houses, the charred remains of temples, churches and buildings burnt because they were impure, and the run-down houses the rest of the population lived in. The gap between rich and poor was almost insurmountable by now. If you weren't fit enough for the Army, and you could get no other work, you were doomed to starve. On the far borders of suburbia, hundreds of shanty towns had sprung up as the poorest of the poor were evicted from their houses and forced to fend for themselves.
The farmers had been the worst off. Severe drought had hit them hard, and those not able to afford new equipment and the newest crops that were drought-resistant, were forced off the land and their farms repossessed. There was only so much food that could be produced from the already-barren land, which sent food prices soaring as food was imported from overseas to feed the people. Very few had cars now, as they couldn't afford to buy them, nor afford the petrol required to run them. The Government had seized most of the petrol reserves early into its run to feed the vast array of Armed Forces vehicles that required it to run. Only the privileged few drove cars now, and those who knew how to steal petrol.
Andy stopped his car outside one of the restricted zones. This one was an old industrial area filled with empty warehouses and other such abandoned buildings. It had been abandoned at the State's request and no one was allowed to enter them. Some restricted zones had no buildings at all as they'd all been razed to the ground, but some still stood in some areas. There were rumours floating around that buildings still standing in restricted zones had been poisoned to kill anyone who entered them, but Andy wasn't quite convinced this was true.
He got out and looked around. He was in his patrol car and in uniform. He hadn't bothered to change, and he knew it would get him into areas he wouldn't be able to get into in civilian clothes. It was also easier to write it off as work-related. Though he knew perfectly well no one patrolled the restricted zones. No one wanted to, not when they were so obviously devoid of life. The soldiers didn't want to enter them in case the rumours of the poisoned buildings were true, and they were never given protective gear anyway, so why risk it? Andy had a suspicion that if these safe havens were going to be anywhere, they'd be in one of the restricted zones, as you could pretty much guarantee you'd never be found.
Surveying the buildings, Andy saw no sign of life in any of them. There no fire pits, no vehicles, no sound at all. If there were people living here, they were very good at not being seen. Locking his car, he headed towards the first building, just to see if things were as lifeless as they appeared.
The door he came to was rusted and broken. It took some force to pry it open. He pulled his gun in case he had to defend himself, took a deep breath, and headed inside.
He found himself in a long, narrow corridor. There were no doors or windows that he could see. He walked down it, following it to see where it might lead to. The sound of hushed voices drew him closer, and he left the corridor into a large room enclosed in darkness. Dirty faces turned to look at him as he entered. The sight of his uniform sent them into fearful silence.
“Wow. There are people in here after all,” Andy said, putting his gun away.
A crotchety old woman approached him, pointing a crooked finger at him. “You try and remove us and we'll slaughter every last one of you miserable pigs,” she warned.
“I wouldn't do that. Besides, I'm here alone, and I'm off-duty. None of this will get to my superiors. I know how important these places are to you,” Andy said.
“So why are you here then?” she said spitefully.
“I'm looking for a friend of mine. Do you know if there are any fullwings around here? He was with one of them when I last saw him,” Andy said.
“No, there be no fullwings around here. What do you know of them anyway?” the woman said.
“I'm an ally of theirs,” Andy said simply, lost for anything else to say.
“Prove it,” the woman hissed, looking at him with angry eyes.
“How should I prove it? I've been helping them escape police capture for years, ever since I joined the force. My best friend, the one I'm looking for, he's gone missing. He had a couple of fullwings living with him, and I very strongly suspect it was those fullwings who killed a couple of cops that were found in my friend's flat. Now they're all gone and I need to find them to make sure they're alright,” Andy said, opting for honesty.
“Huh. You'll be lucky to find them now. There are 53 restricted zones in New South Wales alone. They could be in any one of them, or even none of them. Good luck. You'll need it,” the woman said.
“You can't help me?” Andy said.
“We're just leftovers here, rejects from society. We don't belong to anyone but ourselves. Now get out!” the woman said.
“Wait! You're looking for fullwings? I think I can help you,” said another woman, much younger. She walked over to Andy and he could see the tiny vestigial wings marking her as a halfwing. She must never have been able to afford to buy her citizenship and have her wings removed.
“You can? Are there any around here?” Andy said.
“There are if you know where to look. They're even more secretive than us, and you won't just walk into the buildings they're hiding in either. Once you enter their safe havens, you won't leave. It's too risky to leave. If you're important to them on the outside, I suggest you stop looking for them. I can pass a message to them if you like,” the young woman offered.
“I don't know how important I am. I've never been able to contact them directly. I was always told to go through my friend, the one I'm looking for. He knows how to contact the fullwings. I don't, hence I'm looking for them. I need to know he's alright,” Andy said.
“Are you willing to risk your job, your home, everything, to find them? You'll become a fugitive like your friend, and be unable to return to the outside world. I take it you're human. Your citizenship will be void, you'll be dishonourably discharged from the Army. If they find you, they'll arrest you and shut you in prison. Do you still want to find them?” the young woman asked.
“Yes. I won't rest until I know he's alright. Please, I've known him since childhood, and this is the first time he's vanished when I don't know where he's gone,” Andy said, pleading for help.
The young woman considered him. “Alright, I'll take you to them, but you're changing first. I won't lead a soldier around here and risk getting myself killed,” she said. “Come with me.”
Andy followed her, seeing the old woman scowling at him as he left. The young woman led him into another part of the warehouse.
“This used to be an old clothing manufacturing place, and no one bothered clearing out the storehouse before they left, so we've got plenty of clothes. I'll find you something boring to wear. Leave your uniform here. I'll have it destroyed,” she said as she began clambering up the large boxes to find something for him to wear.
Andy stood there and waited for her to return, stripping off in order to change more quickly. She threw some clothes down to him. He picked them off the floor and looked over at them. They were definitely old clothes. No one wore things like this anymore.
She clambered down again, clutching a few more items she thought he might like. “Sorry for bringing you so much. I wasn't sure what you'd like. Oh, and I'm Ruby. I should've introduced myself earlier,” she said, handing him the clothes.
“I'm Andy,” Andy said, picking through the small selection of clothes until he'd found something he liked.
“Take nothing with you. We'll have the patrol car and a fake corpse torched to fake your death to avoid anyone looking for you. That's why we need your uniform, including your shoes. Everything must look proper or they'll suspect foul play. Now get dressed. We have to get moving,” Ruby said.
Andy nodded his understanding as he picked out the least ugly of the clothes she'd brought for him. She picked out a pair of black boots for him as well and once dressed to Ruby's satisfaction, she finally agreed to take Andy to the fullwings.
Just as they left the warehouse, Ruby grabbed his arm and pulled him down behind some old wooden crates, holding a hand over his mouth to silence him.
“Shh! Choppers! Stay still and quiet!” she hissed to him.
The minutes passed in tense silence as they heard the choppers approach and finally disappear. Only when there was silence did Ruby let him up.
“Methinks they're getting smarter. Now, come with me. We have a long way to travel,” Ruby said, grabbing his arm again as she led him away.
Ruby led Andy to another smaller warehouse, which Andy soon discovered was a stable. There were many horses penned up in there, as well as some expensive and not-so-expensive looking gear.
“You know how to ride, yes?” Ruby said as she went to one of the stalls.
“Yeah, it was one of the first things they taught us after I enlisted,” Andy said.
“Good. Then I will not have to teach you anything. Go, pick a horse. It is vital you have a mount that likes you. Be quick about it. We must set out before sunset,” Ruby said.
Andy nodded and made his way along the stalls, greeting each of the horses in order to find the one best suited to him. Eleven horses later, he found her. She was a beautiful chestnut brown mare with lovely eyes. Stroking her nose affectionately, Andy smiled at her and greeted her.
Ruby soon came up to them, leading her own horse. “Her name is Marriá. Good gentle soul. Tack her up then. We need to get going. I'm assuming you know how to do that without being told, yes?” she said.
“Of course. Just show me where everything is and I can do the rest,” Andy said.
Ruby led the way, opening the stall gate and watching the brown mare follow Andy obediently as they headed towards the other end of the stables.
“How long a journey is this going to be?” Andy said.
“Two days, perhaps longer. We will be galloping, so pick your saddle wisely,” Ruby said. “Do you know how to hunt with these?” She showed him a basic hunting bow and a quiver of arrows, slick and deadly.
“I haven't used them for years, not since I was a kid. We catching our own food along the way?” Andy said.
“Yes, it is more efficient, and we can carry less. Makes travelling faster. Come,” she said as Andy finished getting his mare ready.
Leading their horses out of the stable, they mounted them and tore off into the darkening night, leaving the restricted zone far behind.
Adam didn’t look back, and didn’t stop until he arrived back at the haven, being mindful of not being caught. It was nearing dusk as he touched down at last, making his way inside the warehouse again. He headed straight for Wil’s room, finding him lounging on the bed, studying what looked like charts or maps.
“I'm back now. Did you miss me?” Adam said, leaning against the doorframe.
Wil looked up from the maps before him. “Yeah, I did. So did Hamish. You ok now?” he said.
“Yeah. I’m… better now. How are things progressing? Seb said you had a plan,” Adam said, coming to perch on the bed beside Wil.
“Yeah, we’ve been working on it for months now. I’ve got some of the boys off sourcing the things we’ll need. We need to strike soon. Leave it too long and we’ll all be gone before we have a chance to fight back. The Glass House is now our training arena. Everyone fights or we all die. We can’t afford to have people not fighting now. We haven’t got enough of a force to let a few not fight. Everyone has to do their bit. I’ve organised training sessions for those that want them. I said you’d be teaching them. That ok? Just I thought with Seb training you and all, there’d be no one better for the job,” Wil said.
“I’d be happy to train them. It’d be good to put Seb’s training to good use. When do we start?” Adam said.
“As soon as you’re ready. I didn’t want to set an exact date until you came back. What’s in the box, if you don’t mind me asking?” Wil said.
“Oh, it's just… something Seb wanted me to have, that’s all. It’s-”
“Wil, oh, sorry to interrupt, but Jules has something you might want to hear. There are a couple of geneticists here who might have something that could swing the battle in our favour,” Craig said, sticking his head into the bedroom. “Hey Adam. Man, sorry about Seb, hey? That was far too cruel for words. You doing ok?” he said, seeing Adam in the room as well.
“Yeah, as well as can be expected. What’s this about geneticists?” Adam said.
“I’m not sure of the details, but they made something they said might help us,” Craig said.
“You sure they’re on our side, and not some Government spooks trying to infiltrate our ranks?” Wil said.
“We checked them out three times. Timmy insisted. They’re safe. Besides, they were arrested and imprisoned several months ago for not agreeing with Government policy. They were smuggled out a few weeks ago and now they’re in need of protection in exchange for whatever help they can give. At least come and see them,” Craig said.
“Alright, but you know Adam’s in charge now, yeah?” Wil said.
“Yeah? Ah, you’ve got his sword, I see. Well, no one better, really. Come on, they’re waiting for you,” Craig said.
“Just let me put this away and I’ll be right there. Go ahead Wil, won’t be long,” Adam said, gesturing to the shinza.
“Alright. Whatever you want,” Wil said.
