Bookwyrm Writes in Darknes

“Hey… You said that I could call you whenever, and you’d be willing to come by and talk to me?” Adrian asked, their voice quiet and whispery, as if they were talking as quietly as they could while making sure that their vox-err… Cell phone would pick up their words. 

It was roughly three in the morning, and Pallius knew that his bonded was usually asleep at this time. He’d been awake as he hadn’t been able to fall asleep. All evening he had been plagued by some nameless dread, the source of which he had been trying to find. He’d been pacing around the shared medical ward room that he’d been staying in with Olivar, Elias (who was a firstborn Son of Guilliman and also scout aged), and Tercelle - a Terran born Emperor’s Child who had been brought here by the will of the god emperor after nearly being killed by his traitorous kin during the Heresy. He’d tried to pace quietly, and none of the others had said that they felt the same dread that had made itself a nest within his hearts.

The apothecary who was taking care of them for the evening - a very scary Terran born Night Lord - had offered him some sort of medication that would allegedly help him sleep. Pallius had politely declined the offer - in part because while the Very Scary Night lord had treated him before and hadn’t done anything… Overtly weird… And Claude said that he wasn’t always as scary as he seemed to be… Pallius was still deeply wary of him. 

“Of course. Where are you? I’ll come to you immediately.” Pallius answered, making sure to pitch his voice low and quiet, so as to not disturb the sleep of the others. 

“… So, I need you to not be mad at me, but I… I went to that huge block party on Seventh and Valles. I didn’t go alone! Several of the other girls from the group home went with me, and it was fun for a while… But… At some point I got separated from them and things have gotten really weird. I don’t know if this is some sort of large scale practical joke or flash mob or what…” Adrian explained in a rush, the words jumbling together.

It took him a moment to parse what she was saying, as he was still learning the language. “What’s going on? Should I bring back up to your location?” Pallius was also about to ask if he should alert the local arbites force that there were strange happenings going on at a late hour of the night - or very early hour of the morning - at that should be a harmless party.  But that might also make the situation worse - or trap his bonded in a situation that was more dangerous than if he went himself.  He was already moving towards the door to the room, one hand reaching out to the door knob when his bonded spoke again.

“There are a bunch of people running around in dark robes chanting. I don’t understand what they are saying, but hearing their words gives me a really bad headache, and when one of the event people walked over to them and told them to stop, they…. One of the hooded figures-“ Adrian stopped talking abruptly.

Pallius was already out of the door and running as fast down the hallway as his recovering injuries allowed him, alerting the primaris vox chat to a high priority danger. There was some sort of cultish nonsense happening from what his bonded was telling him and it needed to be handled now. “Adrian, are you still here?” He asked, keeping his voice quiet, not wanting it to carry and potentially give her away to the cultists.

There was a terrifying amount of silence as he thundered down the medical hallways, several night medical personnel appearing out of nowhere. Mostly baselines, but he could smell the ghoulish specter of that damned Death Guard that spent far too much time around Cedric for Pallius’ comfort. And then.

“Yes, I am here. I had to move as the chanting is getting louder. There’s sparks of light going on. I can’t tell if they’re using some sort of flashlights or fireworks or… Or something else. They’re corralling people from the block party into different areas. Something about showing the truth that is hidden beneath the veil of lies?” Adrian explained, terror easily heard in their voice.

The massive chaos bastard paused in his tracks, helmeted head tilting a little as he too, could hear their fear and uncertainty. The aura of smug amusement lowered a little. Was that a touch of concern for a baseline? Pallius could not be distracted from his duties, and turned down a side hallway, heading to the nearest exit he knew of, dodging concerned baseline medical personnel as he went. “… Whatever it is that they want others to see, I doubt it is anything that will do anyone any actual good. keep your eyes on the ground, or better yet, closed. Try to keep from being spotted, I am coming for you, and I will help you, my love.” He promises, his hearts tightening in what couldn’t be fear, as he was an Astartes. Astartes don’t feel fear. 

“I-I… okay…” Adrian responded, their voice still nothing more than a whisper of terror. 

“Young one, where are you going?” The Death Guard called out, moving after him with the inevitability of death and the certainty of oblivion.

“Not that it’s any business of yours, Heretic, but my bonded has called me asking for extraction. There is something strange going on at a party that they decided to attend too, and they don’t feel comfortable trying to leave on their own.” Pallius growled, his eyes flashing with irritation.

“And what makes you think that you can save them? You weren’t able to save yourself. You will fail them, as you failed your brothers. As you failed your superiors. But it is good that you isolated yourself. It makes this much easier.” The ancient Death guard purred. His voice increased in volume “You can come out now. He is yours to deal with as you please, Reclusiarch.”

What? No! NO no no no no! It couldn’t be-

Petras stepped out from a nearby room, his armor gleaming and polished, except where blood splatter, a bright and fresh red decorated his arms and hands. “We have a deal, then. This one is mine, and you can have that wretched of an apothecary. He’s long been a thorn in my side. Do with him as you will, Heretic, they aren’t true astartes, anyways. Merely meat shields and toys to play with and use as we see fit.”

“Pal…. Pallius… Run!’ Croaked a familiar and heartbreaking voice, from the room that Petras had just left. 

Ramiel lay in a rapidly expanding pool of his own blood, one of his hearts ripped out of his chest, legs broken and arms tied tight in ceramite chains behind his back. The light and life were fading from his brother’s eyes. “Run!!” Ramiel croaks again, coughing up yet more blood.

Pallius tried to run - but Petras was far too close and the Death Guard had somehow rotted the stone floor beneath his feet, fetid vines crawling and pining his legs in place “No! No! Stop-“

Adrian called out “Pallius! Pallius please! You need to help me!” Their voice was a terrified scream and-

Pallius fell himself falling sideways, into the fetid abyss.

…

…

“Pallius, are you alright?” Adrian asked, their voice warm and full of concern.

Pallius gasped and his eyes snapped open. “What… Where am I?” He looks around. He’s on the ground, in front of the couch that he’d helped Adrian move, as the other had aged out of the group home and had managed to scrape together enough money to get a small but cozy apartment. “Oh… You… You’re safe, yes?”

“Yes, Pallius. I’m safe. So are you. We’re in my apartment in downtown Gannet Point. It’s ten minutes from Stoneflame base. We are on Earth, and it’s July fifth. You’d taken a nap on my couch and seemed to be fine until a couple of minutes ago, when you started flailing and ripped the blanket I put over you into several pieces.” Adrian explained, their voice gentle and soothing as they stayed where they were, in the tiny cooking area, having set down the orange they’d been in the process of peeling.

The sweet and citrusy scent of the fruit, combined with their presence and voice and scent mingling together…. Pallius took in a deep breath and looked down, dismayed that he had destroyed something of theirs on accident “I will pay for a new blanket, my apologies, love. I was… I’d been having a very vivid nightmare.”

Adrian winced sympathetically, and asked “Do you want to talk about it? Or would you prefer to be distracted by it, as it fades from your mind? Hug or task?” This was a system the two of them had put in place, as the perfect recall of an astartes was not always a blessing… And Adrian was plagued by occasional nightmares, few of which they were ever able to speak to him about at length. His beloved had been through a lot far too young for a time period that was supposed to be much safer than in the far future.

“I don’t want to talk about the nightmare, and I think I’d like a task. I’m… I don’t know how well I’ll respond to touch at the moment.” Pallius murmured, swallowing the urge to apologize. That was another rule. Never apologize for speaking up for one’s needs, when it was the two of them. He tried to stick to that rule, though it was difficult sometimes, and he knew that Adrian also struggled with that as well. 

Adrian nods, wincing in sympathy “Those kinds of nightmares are some of the worst. Now, I would be very grateful if you changed the light in the apartment. When it’s on, it occasionally flickers, and I know it’s one of those electrical bulbs that’s pitched at a sound that you’ve told me before really bothers you. I’ve got a better bulb for both of us in that box over there.”

Jophiel squeezed Tomas's hand once before the older Blood Angel let go.

"I'll be right here," Tomas murmured.

Jophiel nodded, drawing a slow breath before stepping into the office alone. The door sealed behind him with a heavy hiss. A lone Thousand Sons officer sat behind a simple desk, several data-slates already stacked neatly before him. His expression was unreadable.

"Scout Jophiel."

"Sir."

"Please sit."

Jophiel obeyed, folding his damaged wings as carefully as he could. Even bandaged, they ached. The officer activated a recorder. "For the record, state your account of the incident."

Jophiel repeated everything as plainly as he could remember it. He had been training alone. The four Blood Claws had entered. They had asked to spar. He had declined because previous unsupervised spars between them had ended in violence.

They had attacked regardless. One had trapped his wings beneath a weighted net. Another had demanded answers regarding Algeret's disappearance. He had repeatedly stated that he knew nothing.

He had been beaten until reinforcements arrived. The officer listened without interruption, making occasional notes. When Jophiel finally fell silent, the room remained quiet for several long moments.

"Do you possess any information regarding Scout Algeret's disappearance?"

"No."

"You are certain?"

"I am."

Long bones dissolving into broth flickered across his memory. Sanguinal stew. Prepared according to the rites of Baal. Nothing unusual. Nothing connected.

"I have never met him," Jophiel said. "I don't know what happened to him."

The officer watched him for another moment before lowering his gaze to the slate. "I believe you."

Jophiel blinked. "You... do?"

"I do." Relief blossomed for only a heartbeat before the officer continued. "I have also reviewed the statements of every witness present."

"And?"

"The Blood Claws will receive corrective measures."

Jophiel searched the officer's face for some hint of what those measures might actually be.

He found none. "And me?"

The officer exhaled quietly. "You will attend conflict de-escalation instruction."

Silence.

Jophiel simply stared. "...Sir?"

"You heard me."

"They attacked me."

"They did."

"They fractured both of my wings."

"Yes."

"They threw a weighted restraint over me."

"Correct."

"They questioned me while they were beating me."

"Yes."

"And..." His voice cracked despite himself. "...I am being punished."

The officer was silent for several seconds.

"When reinforcement arrived," he finally said, "the confrontation expanded from four combatants to nine."

"They came to pull them off me."

"They nonetheless became participants."

"They saved my life."

"They escalated the engagement."

Jophiel could only stare. It was like speaking to a wall. "They would have killed me."

"I acknowledge that possibility."

"Then why am I the one standing here?"

The Thousand Son's expression tightened by the barest fraction.

"Because," he said quietly, "I am permitted to discipline your conduct."

The words landed strangely.

Permitted.

Not expected.

Not required.

Permitted.

"And theirs?"

A pause.

"...Their circumstances are more complicated."

"What does that mean?"

"It means I cannot discuss them."

"They've hurt Cedric."

Silence.

"They've hurt Olly."

Silence.

"They've hurt civilians."

The officer remained perfectly still.

"They broke my wings."

"I know."

"They're just going to keep doing it."

Another silence.

This one stretched painfully long.

Finally the Thousand Son folded his hands. "Scout."

His voice had softened. "There are matters you are not cleared to know."

Jophiel frowned. "I am aware."

The officer chose each word with obvious care. "...that the Blood Claws are under protections unavailable to most scouts."

Protections. Not privileges. The distinction was subtle. It did not make Jophiel feel any better. It makes something in his hearts burn. An ugly feeling that he’s pushing down. For the moment.

"I cannot explain those protections."

"I cannot revoke them."

"And I cannot allow them to become public knowledge."

"Then they just..." Jophiel swallowed. "...keep hurting people?"

The officer closed his eyes for only a moment. "I hope not."

Hope. Not confidence. Hope. Something cold settled in Jophiel's stomach. The officer wasn't dismissing the problem. He simply couldn't solve it.

"The conflict de-escalation instruction," the Thousand Son continued, "is not because I believe you started the fight."

Jophiel looked up. 

"It is because if this happens again..." He hesitated. "...I need every scout under my authority to survive it."

Jophiel didn't know whether that made the punishment easier or harder to accept. He rose slowly. "...Permission to leave?"

“Granted."

Outside the room, Tomas was already waiting. One look at Jophiel's face and he was on his feet. "How'd it go?"

Jophiel stood silently for a long moment before answering.

"...I think..." His voice sounded very small. "...I think the Officers know something they won't tell us."

Tomas frowned. "And?"

"Cedric..." Jophiel called out, his eyes shining brightly as he tried to blink away the tears before they could fall. His lower lip was both split and trembling a little. He had a black eye and his wings were an absolute mess of twisted feathers. Some of them were even damaged or broken, and he was holding himself in a careful manner that spoke to either one of his arms being sprained or broken. "I need a bit of help, when you've got a minute..."

The young apothecary's eyes widened as he rushed over to the winged Blood Angel as the other swayed on his feet, catching him before Jophiel could fall more than a couple of inches "Of course, Jophie. You know that I'm here to help, whenever you need, however you need it."

"Thank you. I... I'm not sure how much longer I can stay standing, things got pretty... Pretty ugly out there." The young librarian in training admitted, leaning more of his weight onto Cedric. His ankles were swelling, bruised and had angry marks that looked like fingers wrapping around them.

Cedric swallowed hard, filling that information away as he carefully carried the other Primaris over to the exam table and setting him on it gently. It took him a couple of moments to summon the correct words to say, his hearts in an absolute storm of conflicting and stressed emotions "What happened, Jophiel? Where does it hurt the worst?"

"You know the pack of Space Wolf Blood Claws who keep causing problems?" Jophiel answered, pausing for a moment before saying "My wings hurt the worst. The bastards threw a weighted net over my wings while I was sparring with one of them and they demanded answers of me that I couldn't give them. They... Really didn't like that, and took it out on me. They only stopped with Nanael, Kerubiel and Claude showed up. I suppose they don't like it when the odds aren't in their favor."

Cedric did not know why the young pack of firstborn space wolves were being allowed to run roughshod over everyone with no consequences whatsoever by the higher ups. He had quietly reported every instance of bullying that the fuckers had done to himself, and to the others. Including Olly. He'd been told that their Sargant would speak to them about it, and was in charge of discipline. 

As far as Cedric could tell, said Sargent had done fuck all about it. His hands were careful, and gentle as he checked Jophiel over for injuries, asking "Can you give me more details about what happened? I know that those fuckers are..." He had. Many thoughts about those bastards, none of them were good or kind. "Privileged little bastards, but the more I can document about what they've done, perhaps this time they'll actually receive consequences." 

He doubted it, considering the fact that they'd physically bullied a baseline and had seemingly gotten a slap on the wrist for it. The preferential treatment was maddening, but not surprising. Cedric kept his fury and bloodlust under lock and key, so as to not radiate a murderous aura where Jophiel might be able to pick up on. He didn't want to further upset him. 

"I... There isn't much to tell, unfortunately. Ouch! Did you just pull one of my pin feathers?" Johpeil responds, wincing and peering over one shoulder at Cedric as he worked. "I was in one of the sparring rooms, practicing my hand to hand combat. I'd been in there for about an hour or so, and then Herliefr, Kolr, Baggi and Snorri came in. I said hello and I thought they'd ignored me, which was rude, but at least they weren't trying to start trouble. Again. Or so I thought."

"I had to remove it, it was badly bent out of shape and snapped in three different places." Cedric explains "Would you rather I give you a warning first? I'm going to have to pull at least a half a dozen more feathers. They really did a number on your wings." They would pay tenfold for this. He would make sure of it. For all of the stupid shit they've done and received no censure, not even a slap on the wrist for being shitty bastards. Jophiel had the least to do with what happened to their missing brother, after all. Targeting him just because they thought him to be the weakest and most vulnerable was shit behavior. Not that Cedric expected anything better from the four arrogant pieces of shit.  "Please continue explaining. Oh, and I hope you don't mind that I am recording this, in order to submit it to their superiors as further proof of their lack of discipline."

"No, I don't mind." Jophiel answers, shifting a little. Primaris marines who had behaved even half as poorly as the four of them had been in the far future would have been culled or sent on death missions until they either begged their superiors for clemency, or died. But... Firstborns always did give each other preferential treatment and more grace. And there was something else on the edges of his Sight. Something... Someone dangerous that the four of them knew about, that kept them from receiving more dire consequences for their actions. Which was still grox-shit, but unsurprising. He clears his throat and continues his report "Snorri and Baggi approached me, and asked to spar. I reminded both of them that we weren't supposed to spar one another unsupervised because they keep trying to bully my brothers. They... Didn't like that and attacked me. I hadn't realized that Herliefr and Kolr had  flanked me until I felt one of them grab my left wing."

Jophiel took a moment to catch his breath, pressing a hand against a couple of his ribs, panting a little, the room started spinning unpleasantly beneath and around him. 

Cedric let Jophiel take his time in gathering himself and his thoughts as he steadily worked to get the other's wings in order. From what his auspex told him, he needed to brace both of Jophiel's wings as the primary wing bones had hairline fractures. This damage was catalogued and noted. He also tallied the broken bones mentally on The List of things that the fuckers needed to pay for. "Take the time you need, brother." He was as gentle as he could be, under the circumstances. 

"I tried to fight them off, and to get up to the high ground, but one of them - either Herliefr or Kolr I'm not sure which - wrapped the weighted net around my wings and used that to drag me down to the ground. They asked me questions about Algerets' disappearance. I told them the truth, that I didn't know anything about his disappearance. They... Didn't seem to like that answer and started to kick me with their feet and occasionally hit me with one of their fists while repeating the same questions over and over again. I really don't know anything about what happened to their brother, though! Why... Why would they hurt me like this? I've only ever tried to be friendly and nice to them." Jophiel asked plaintively, sniffling a little as he tried not to burst into tears. 

"Because they assume that they are right and righteous, which means they think they have the right to bully, belittle and demean anyone who they think is obstructing them seeking the justice they assume that it is that they are seeking." Cedric answers, his voice low and trying to be consoling, even as his hands shook briefly in fury. Control, He needed to keep control of himself. "They're wrong, of course. But they refuse to see that. Is there anything else you'd like to report?" He prompted.

"Right! The rest of what happened. I don't know how long they were beating me up and trying to get answers I don't have out of me. Nanael came in through a window and dragged one of them off of me. Then Keru and Claude appeared - I think they did their teleporting tricks to get into the room as quick as possible and dragged two more off of them. And Thressl charged into the room through the door and punched the last one off of me. I managed to get up off of the floor and untangled from the net when some of the older first borns showed up and ordered everyone to stop fighting. I was ordered to report to the medbay while everyone else was being lectured about brawling without supervision." Jophiel finished, his bandaged wings curling in closer to his body. "I think they were scolding our brothers a bit more because you know. There were five of us and four of them so the numbers were unfair."

Cedric's hands tightened for a couple of moments as the rage threatens to overwhelm him again. He closes his eyes, taking  in a deep breath. The scent of JOphiel's distress and blood does little to help his fraying control over his temper. He opens his eyes, and Jophiel has gotten up off of the exam table and mid-flinging himself at Cedric. He catches Jophiel and hugs him close "Jophie?"

The younger primaris hides his face in one of Cedric's shoulders "I know you're angry. They aren't worth your fury, brother. I'll heal in time, and they'll stop at some point."

"... When? When will they stop? When will they be properly censured? When they attempt to kill another one of us? I can't stand by while they bully and hurt my loved ones any longer, Jophiel. But rest assured, what I do will not harm you or the others. That I will do my best to ensure."  Cedric answers, trying to keep the anger out of his voice. His hearts are full of care and fondness and a fury that is curdling into more hatred. 

"You love me?" Jophiel asks, his voice small and unsure.

"Always." Cedric answers, smiling tenderly at the Blood Angel. He means it with all of his hearts as well, although he is quite certain Jophiel misinterprets what he means. He's dating someone else, for one thing. Someone more confident, someone more sure of himself and likely kinder. He's good for Jophie, which is all Cedric can ask of anyone. 

Jophiel beams and cuddles Cedric closer "I love you too, brother! I did message Tomas earlier, and he's in the waiting room, going to be my safety buddy."

He resists the urge to press a kiss to the other's forehead as he hugs Jophiel a little closer "Good. I've patched up all of the wounds I know about, do you need more time, or are you ready to head out?" He has a bunch of paperwork waiting for him and he knows that there are more patients who need to be seen. But he will linger with Jophiel for as long as the other needs him. 

The young Blood Angel hugs him for a little while longer before letting go. "I'm going to head out now. I know you're really busy and on duty today. See you later."

"Cedric..." Jophiel called out, his eyes shining brightly as he tried to blink away the tears before they could fall. His lower lip was both split and trembling a little. He had a black eye and his wings were an absolute mess of twisted feathers. Some of them were even damaged or broken, and he was holding himself in a careful manner that spoke to either one of his arms being sprained or broken. "I need a bit of help, when you've got a minute..."

The young apothecary's eyes widened as he rushed over to the winged Blood Angel as the other swayed on his feet, catching him before Jophiel could fall more than a couple of inches "Of course, Jophie. You know that I'm here to help, whenever you need, however you need it."

"Thank you. I... I'm not sure how much longer I can stay standing, things got pretty... Pretty ugly out there." The young librarian in training admitted, leaning more of his weight onto Cedric. His ankles were swelling, bruised and had angry marks that looked like fingers wrapping around them.

Cedric swallowed hard, filling that information away as he carefully carried the other Primaris over to the exam table and setting him on it gently. It took him a couple of moments to summon the correct words to say, his hearts in an absolute storm of conflicting and stressed emotions "What happened, Jophiel? Where does it hurt the worst?"

"You know the pack of Space Wolf Blood Claws who keep causing problems?" Jophiel answered, pausing for a moment before saying "My wings hurt the worst. The bastards threw a weighted net over my wings while I was sparring with one of them and they demanded answers of me that I couldn't give them. They... Really didn't like that, and took it out on me. They only stopped with Nanael, Kerubiel and Claude showed up. I suppose they don't like it when the odds aren't in their favor."

Cedric did not know why the young pack of firstborn space wolves were being allowed to run roughshod over everyone with no consequences whatsoever by the higher ups. He had quietly reported every instance of bullying that the fuckers had done to himself, and to the others. Including Olly. He'd been told that their Sargant would speak to them about it, and was in charge of discipline. 

As far as Cedric could tell, said Sargent had done fuck all about it. His hands were careful, and gentle as he checked Jophiel over for injuries, asking "Can you give me more details about what happened? I know that those fuckers are..." He had. Many thoughts about those bastards, none of them were good or kind. "Privileged little bastards, but the more I can document about what they've done, perhaps this time they'll actually receive consequences." 

He doubted it, considering the fact that they'd physically bullied a baseline and had seemingly gotten a slap on the wrist for it. The preferential treatment was maddening, but not surprising. Cedric kept his fury and bloodlust under lock and key, so as to not radiate a murderous aura where Jophiel might be able to pick up on. He didn't want to further upset him. 

"I... There isn't much to tell, unfortunately. Ouch! Did you just pull one of my pin feathers?" Johpeil responds, wincing and peering over one shoulder at Cedric as he worked. "I was in one of the sparring rooms, practicing my hand to hand combat. I'd been in there for about an hour or so, and then Herliefr, Kolr, Baggi and Snorri came in. I said hello and I thought they'd ignored me, which was rude, but at least they weren't trying to start trouble. Again. Or so I thought."

"I had to remove it, it was badly bent out of shape and snapped in three different places." Cedric explains "Would you rather I give you a warning first? I'm going to have to pull at least a half a dozen more feathers. They really did a number on your wings." They would pay tenfold for this. He would make sure of it. For all of the stupid shit they've done and received no censure, not even a slap on the wrist for being shitty bastards. Jophiel had the least to do with what happened to their missing brother, after all. Targeting him just because they thought him to be the weakest and most vulnerable was shit behavior. Not that Cedric expected anything better from the four arrogant pieces of shit.  "Please continue explaining. Oh, and I hope you don't mind that I am recording this, in order to submit it to their superiors as further proof of their lack of discipline."

"No, I don't mind." Jophiel answers, shifting a little. Primaris marines who had behaved even half as poorly as the four of them had been in the far future would have been culled or sent on death missions until they either begged their superiors for clemency, or died. But... Firstborns always did give each other preferential treatment and more grace. And there was something else on the edges of his Sight. Something... Someone dangerous that the four of them knew about, that kept them from receiving more dire consequences for their actions. Which was still grox-shit, but unsurprising. He clears his throat and continues his report "Snorri and Baggi approached me, and asked to spar. I reminded both of them that we weren't supposed to spar one another unsupervised because they keep trying to bully my brothers. They... Didn't like that and attacked me. I hadn't realized that Herliefr and Kolr had  flanked me until I felt one of them grab my left wing."

Jophiel took a moment to catch his breath, pressing a hand against a couple of his ribs, panting a little, the room started spinning unpleasantly beneath and around him. 

Cedric let Jophiel take his time in gathering himself and his thoughts as he steadily worked to get the other's wings in order. From what his auspex told him, he needed to brace both of Jophiel's wings as the primary wing bones had hairline fractures. This damage was catalogued and noted. He also tallied the broken bones mentally on The List of things that the fuckers needed to pay for. "Take the time you need, brother." He was as gentle as he could be, under the circumstances. 

"I tried to fight them off, and to get up to the high ground, but one of them - either Herliefr or Kolr I'm not sure which - wrapped the weighted net around my wings and used that to drag me down to the ground. They asked me questions about Algerets' disappearance. I told them the truth, that I didn't know anything about his disappearance. They... Didn't seem to like that answer and started to kick me with their feet and occasionally hit me with one of their fists while repeating the same questions over and over again. I really don't know anything about what happened to their brother, though! Why... Why would they hurt me like this? I've only ever tried to be friendly and nice to them." Jophiel asked plaintively, sniffling a little as he tried not to burst into tears. 

"Because they assume that they are right and righteous, which means they think they have the right to bully, belittle and demean anyone who they think is obstructing them seeking the justice they assume that it is that they are seeking." Cedric answers, his voice low and trying to be consoling, even as his hands shook briefly in fury. Control, He needed to keep control of himself. "They're wrong, of course. But they refuse to see that. Is there anything else you'd like to report?" He prompted.

"Right! The rest of what happened. I don't know how long they were beating me up and trying to get answers I don't have out of me. Nanael came in through a window and dragged one of them off of me. Then Keru and Claude appeared - I think they did their teleporting tricks to get into the room as quick as possible and dragged two more off of them. And Thressl charged into the room through the door and punched the last one off of me. I managed to get up off of the floor and untangled from the net when some of the older first borns showed up and ordered everyone to stop fighting. I was ordered to report to the medbay while everyone else was being lectured about brawling without supervision." Jophiel finished, his bandaged wings curling in closer to his body. "I think they were scolding our brothers a bit more because you know. There were five of us and four of them so the numbers were unfair."

Cedric's hands tightened for a couple of moments as the rage threatens to overwhelm him again. He closes his eyes, taking  in a deep breath. The scent of JOphiel's distress and blood does little to help his fraying control over his temper. He opens his eyes, and Jophiel has gotten up off of the exam table and mid-flinging himself at Cedric. He catches Jophiel and hugs him close "Jophie?"

The younger primaris hides his face in one of Cedric's shoulders "I know you're angry. They aren't worth your fury, brother. I'll heal in time, and they'll stop at some point."

"... When? When will they stop? When will they be properly censured? When they attempt to kill another one of us? I can't stand by while they bully and hurt my loved ones any longer, Jophiel. But rest assured, what I do will not harm you or the others. That I will do my best to ensure."  Cedric answers, trying to keep the anger out of his voice. His hearts are full of care and fondness and a fury that is curdling into more hatred. 

"You love me?" Jophiel asks, his voice small and unsure.

"Always." Cedric answers, smiling tenderly at the Blood Angel. He means it with all of his hearts as well, although he is quite certain Jophiel misinterprets what he means. He's dating someone else, for one thing. Someone more confident, someone more sure of himself and likely kinder. He's good for Jophie, which is all Cedric can ask of anyone. 

Jophiel beams and cuddles Cedric closer "I love you too, brother! I did message Tomas earlier, and he's in the waiting room, going to be my safety buddy."

He resists the urge to press a kiss to the other's forehead as he hugs Jophiel a little closer "Good. I've patched up all of the wounds I know about, do you need more time, or are you ready to head out?" He has a bunch of paperwork waiting for him and he knows that there are more patients who need to be seen. But he will linger with Jophiel for as long as the other needs him. 

The young Blood Angel hugs him for a little while longer before letting go. "I'm going to head out now. I know you're really busy and on duty today. See you later."

"Cedric..." Jophiel called out, his eyes shining brightly as he tried to blink away the tears before they could fall. His lower lip was both split and trembling a little. He had a black eye and his wings were an absolute mess of twisted feathers. Some of them were even damaged or broken, and he was holding himself in a careful manner that spoke to either one of his arms being sprained or broken. "I need a bit of help, when you've got a minute..."

The young apothecary's eyes widened as he rushed over to the winged Blood Angel as the other swayed on his feet, catching him before Jophiel could fall more than a couple of inches "Of course, Jophie. You know that I'm here to help, whenever you need, however you need it."

"Thank you. I... I'm not sure how much longer I can stay standing, things got pretty... Pretty ugly out there." The young librarian in training admitted, leaning more of his weight onto Cedric. His ankles were swelling, bruised and had angry marks that looked like fingers wrapping around them.

Cedric swallowed hard, filling that information away as he carefully carried the other Primaris over to the exam table and setting him on it gently. It took him a couple of moments to summon the correct words to say, his hearts in an absolute storm of conflicting and stressed emotions "What happened, Jophiel? Where does it hurt the worst?"

"You know the pack of Space Wolf Blood Claws who keep causing problems?" Jophiel answered, pausing for a moment before saying "My wings hurt the worst. The bastards threw a weighted net over my wings while I was sparring with one of them and they demanded answers of me that I couldn't give them. They... Really didn't like that, and took it out on me. They only stopped with Nanael, Kerubiel and Claude showed up. I suppose they don't like it when the odds aren't in their favor."

Cedric did not know why the young pack of firstborn space wolves were being allowed to run roughshod over everyone with no consequences whatsoever by the higher ups. He had quietly reported every instance of bullying that the fuckers had done to himself, and to the others. Including Olly. He'd been told that their Sargant would speak to them about it, and was in charge of discipline. 

As far as Cedric could tell, said Sargent had done fuck all about it. His hands were careful, and gentle as he checked Jophiel over for injuries, asking "Can you give me more details about what happened? I know that those fuckers are..." He had. Many thoughts about those bastards, none of them were good or kind. "Privileged little bastards, but the more I can document about what they've done, perhaps this time they'll actually receive consequences." 

He doubted it, considering the fact that they'd physically bullied a baseline and had seemingly gotten a slap on the wrist for it. The preferential treatment was maddening, but not surprising. Cedric kept his fury and bloodlust under lock and key, so as to not radiate a murderous aura where Jophiel might be able to pick up on. He didn't want to further upset him. 

"I... There isn't much to tell, unfortunately. Ouch! Did you just pull one of my pin feathers?" Johpeil responds, wincing and peering over one shoulder at Cedric as he worked. "I was in one of the sparring rooms, practicing my hand to hand combat. I'd been in there for about an hour or so, and then Herliefr, Kolr, Baggi and Snorri came in. I said hello and I thought they'd ignored me, which was rude, but at least they weren't trying to start trouble. Again. Or so I thought."

"I had to remove it, it was badly bent out of shape and snapped in three different places." Cedric explains "Would you rather I give you a warning first? I'm going to have to pull at least a half a dozen more feathers. They really did a number on your wings." They would pay tenfold for this. He would make sure of it. For all of the stupid shit they've done and received no censure, not even a slap on the wrist for being shitty bastards. Jophiel had the least to do with what happened to their missing brother, after all. Targeting him just because they thought him to be the weakest and most vulnerable was shit behavior. Not that Cedric expected anything better from the four arrogant pieces of shit.  "Please continue explaining. Oh, and I hope you don't mind that I am recording this, in order to submit it to their superiors as further proof of their lack of discipline."

"No, I don't mind." Jophiel answers, shifting a little. Primaris marines who had behaved even half as poorly as the four of them had been in the far future would have been culled or sent on death missions until they either begged their superiors for clemency, or died. But... Firstborns always did give each other preferential treatment and more grace. And there was something else on the edges of his Sight. Something... Someone dangerous that the four of them knew about, that kept them from receiving more dire consequences for their actions. Which was still grox-shit, but unsurprising. He clears his throat and continues his report "Snorri and Baggi approached me, and asked to spar. I reminded both of them that we weren't supposed to spar one another unsupervised because they keep trying to bully my brothers. They... Didn't like that and attacked me. I hadn't realized that Herliefr and Kolr had  flanked me until I felt one of them grab my left wing."

Jophiel took a moment to catch his breath, pressing a hand against a couple of his ribs, panting a little, the room started spinning unpleasantly beneath and around him. 

Cedric let Jophiel take his time in gathering himself and his thoughts as he steadily worked to get the other's wings in order. From what his auspex told him, he needed to brace both of Jophiel's wings as the primary wing bones had hairline fractures. This damage was catalogued and noted. He also tallied the broken bones mentally on The List of things that the fuckers needed to pay for. "Take the time you need, brother." He was as gentle as he could be, under the circumstances. 

"I tried to fight them off, and to get up to the high ground, but one of them - either Herliefr or Kolr I'm not sure which - wrapped the weighted net around my wings and used that to drag me down to the ground. They asked me questions about Algerets' disappearance. I told them the truth, that I didn't know anything about his disappearance. They... Didn't seem to like that answer and started to kick me with their feet and occasionally hit me with one of their fists while repeating the same questions over and over again. I really don't know anything about what happened to their brother, though! Why... Why would they hurt me like this? I've only ever tried to be friendly and nice to them." Jophiel asked plaintively, sniffling a little as he tried not to burst into tears. 

"Because they assume that they are right and righteous, which means they think they have the right to bully, belittle and demean anyone who they think is obstructing them seeking the justice they assume that it is that they are seeking." Cedric answers, his voice low and trying to be consoling, even as his hands shook briefly in fury. Control, He needed to keep control of himself. "They're wrong, of course. But they refuse to see that. Is there anything else you'd like to report?" He prompted.

"Right! The rest of what happened. I don't know how long they were beating me up and trying to get answers I don't have out of me. Nanael came in through a window and dragged one of them off of me. Then Keru and Claude appeared - I think they did their teleporting tricks to get into the room as quick as possible and dragged two more off of them. And Thressl charged into the room through the door and punched the last one off of me. I managed to get up off of the floor and untangled from the net when some of the older first borns showed up and ordered everyone to stop fighting. I was ordered to report to the medbay while everyone else was being lectured about brawling without supervision." Jophiel finished, his bandaged wings curling in closer to his body. "I think they were scolding our brothers a bit more because you know. There were five of us and four of them so the numbers were unfair."

Cedric's hands tightened for a couple of moments as the rage threatens to overwhelm him again. He closes his eyes, taking  in a deep breath. The scent of JOphiel's distress and blood does little to help his fraying control over his temper. He opens his eyes, and Jophiel has gotten up off of the exam table and mid-flinging himself at Cedric. He catches Jophiel and hugs him close "Jophie?"

The younger primaris hides his face in one of Cedric's shoulders "I know you're angry. They aren't worth your fury, brother. I'll heal in time, and they'll stop at some point."

"... When? When will they stop? When will they be properly censured? When they attempt to kill another one of us? I can't stand by while they bully and hurt my loved ones any longer, Jophiel. But rest assured, what I do will not harm you or the others. That I will do my best to ensure."  Cedric answers, trying to keep the anger out of his voice. His hearts are full of care and fondness and a fury that is curdling into more hatred. 

"You love me?" Jophiel asks, his voice small and unsure.

"Always." Cedric answers, smiling tenderly at the Blood Angel. He means it with all of his hearts as well, although he is quite certain Jophiel misinterprets what he means. He's dating someone else, for one thing. Someone more confident, someone more sure of himself and likely kinder. He's good for Jophie, which is all Cedric can ask of anyone. 

Jophiel beams and cuddles Cedric closer "I love you too, brother! I did message Tomas earlier, and he's in the waiting room, going to be my safety buddy."

He resists the urge to press a kiss to the other's forehead as he hugs Jophiel a little closer "Good. I've patched up all of the wounds I know about, do you need more time, or are you ready to head out?" He has a bunch of paperwork waiting for him and he knows that there are more patients who need to be seen. But he will linger with Jophiel for as long as the other needs him. 

The young Blood Angel hugs him for a little while longer before letting go. "I'm going to head out now. I know you're really busy and on duty today. See you later."

Azrael - Come sit on his lap, spread your thighs over his, he'll help you bounce on him. If you tire, he'll guide you to lay back, your legs still around his hips and fuck you deeper. Don't mind him if he starts to spread your legs wider, bending them, folding you in half as his control slips.

Belial - Let him impress you with his ever present strength and perfected body. He'll pin you against the wall using only his hips and thighs, one hand holding your hands above your head, the other touching, teasing your exposed body. He needs nothing else than that to make you unravel under his touch.

Sammael  - Mount him!! Ride him like he's your jetbike, let him see those thighs stretch to fit his waist! His hands will be on you, squeezing and smacking your ass, teasing you if you're facing him. His fingerprints will be reminders of the ride around your hips and thighs.

Ezekiel - He's behind you, unseen but far from unnoticed. His breath fanning over your ear, low grunts as he tells you exactly you feel, buried deep in you. His hands keeping you flush against him, squeezing your hips, your waist, your chest. Even after you're unable to hold yourself up, he will, one strong arm wrapped around you, the other keeping his weight from crushing you. He cups your jaw and tilts your face towards his for slow kisses that war with the fast pace of his hips.

Sapphon - Slow and steady, holding your back to his chest as he rocks into you. There's never any hurry, sometimes it's a curious exploration of what drives you to respond verbally and loudly, but it's never anything that can be considered hard or fast. He holds you close and pants into your hair, moaning your name as he keeps you flush against him. If you're facing him, he'll have your leg over his hips and bend low to kiss your lips.

Asmodai - Any position where you're helpless. He'll take the time to tie you himself, taking a deep interest in softer ropes and far more elegant knots than he's used to. He knows how to drive the human body to its limits and before the night's anywhere nearing over, he'll have you trembling and teary-eyed with overstimulation. You're at his mercy and he won't let you forget that.

Fulgrim

Fulgrim never liked being on mining worlds. Too much dirt and dust swirled in the air, the smells were awful and the faces of the workers always full of misery. It reminded him of home. But unlike Chemos, no hand of beauty would touch this planet. Nothing would change because the Imperium needed the resources.

His cough has risen up again and since all tests came out negative Fulgrim knew it was the pain of his soulmate again. At this rate he might as well throw himself down a mine and get over with his own suffering. So far no symptoms appeared during a battle but with how often he started to feel the pain it would inevitably intervene with is duty. It was as irritating as it was frustrating because it was the only thing in his life he could neither influence nor control. His sons hovered around, a cloud of dust swirled by and his mood soured. Did his own sons think him weak? He adjusted his pace, making his sons fall back. The last thing he needed was for them to see another coughing fit.

‘This planet is really getting on my nerves. I can wait for the moment we leave this miserable rock.’

He stopped short of a few workers, observing the small group. One was kneeling, coughing up blood from damaged lungs while others tried to get them to their feet before the screaming overseer would come down. Yes, it felt like home. This time though each cough mimicked the uncomfortable ache in his own chest. ‘Could it really be them?’

Stepping forward the workers parted and the overseer stopped screaming for the crowd to get going. Everyone watched frozen as he picked up your frail body. For a small moment he increased the pressure around your ribcage and he felt the pain instantly flare up in him before he soothingly brushed over it with his thumb.

“I believe we are going to prolong our stay on this world.” he said not looking at the son that came after him but rather at the coughing figure in his hands. “I have finally found you.” he said only to you.

Lion El‘ Jonson

His new ability was more than confusing. Lion neither knew where it came from, nor did he know how it worked. All he knew that it was useful. He sat meditating and tried to concentrate on it, frowning as it didn’t come to him in an instant. Still if he wanted for his plan to work, he had to do master it and tried again and again. As soon as he reached the right state of mind it became easier to continue.

‘I want to go to my soulmate.’ he thought as he entered the state in which he could use his Forest Walk. Lion was not sure it would work or if you would be still alive. It had been so long since he had felt your pain. Maybe it was a mercy that you were gone even if he never got the chance to find you. Still if he could at least reach your grave it would satisfy his curiosity and give him some kind of closure that was so rare in this new era. It was a vague thought and not knowing where his soulmate was would be an obstacle but his ability was leading him somewhere and he went along with it.

It felt like walking for at least an hour before he came out in a cramped room. A desk, a closet and a mattress on which a person was sleeping. A standard room in the lower districts of the city. It was dark, buildings obscuring the sun and only the clock was an indicator that it was indeed night and not just a hive city.

Lion stood there, not daring to breathe too loud as to not risk your awakening, watching the figure till the alarm started to ring and the figure stirred to put it out with a groan. You looked up, met his gaze and froze with widened eyes like a pray animal in the forest of Caliban. A moment passed, no one moved and Lion got the feeling that perhaps he should say something instead of just staring at your face.

“Ah excuse me..you must be—” he started but was interrupted when the alarm clock was thrown his way with a shrill scream and for the first time since he woke up he felt the familiar pain coming from your hands as the clock successfully hit his head.

Perturabo

The siege had been broken and his troops and flooded the streets of the hive city. Nothing was able to withstand him or his weapons and the PlantNet would soon be another victory for Perturabo. It was nothing new and almost boring. The city walls had lasted only two days. If he had built them they would’ve lasted forever. It spoke of poor craftsmanship of the city and it offended him to be send to such a world.

He walked down the empty streets while his warriors charged forward but now he felt pain in all of his body and he frowned in displeasure. Again his soulmate had injured themselves and he felt a pressure on his ribs and legs. It lasted a moment before it disappeared, leaving a dull ache before a sharp pain had stung his leg with every step. Couldn’t they remain whole for just one day?

At the same time a human rose from the rubble, they’d clothes dusty and a trail of blood flowing down their head. Seeing him they limping towards a chainsword and stood across from him. He could not sense any fear from them when they lifted their weapon to attack him, only stubborn defiance that refused to be broken. They took a step forward and he felt pain shot through his whole leg and a moment of recognition passed through him and he narrowed his eyes, appraising you.

‘It’s you then.’

When he imagined his soulmate he had thought of someone else, not of a soldier who barely knew how to hold a sword right on a rebel planet. All he needed to do was to raise his gun and reduce you to red mist. But a part of him hesitated. Despite your situation you did not run from him instead you were ready to take on a leviathan of a man even if it would end in your death. A part of him wanted to be proven that you indeed belonged to his side and he lowered his arm, meeting your eyes.

“Go on then.” he said testing your resolve to defy him.

For a moment he saw true iron in your eyes and within you and he allowed you to charge him, ready to temper the metal.

Rogal Dorn

“Am I to understanding it right? You’re requesting me to stop using the pain glove to increase your productivity?” Dorn said looking from the document down to you.

“Yes my lord. Your usage of the pain glove pains me in turn greatly and I can’t get any work done.” you said in the same monotone voice as him.

For months after his new invention you couldn’t work or sleep properly since every nerve ending screamed in pain every time he used the pain glove. Sure it was a great tool for his legion and maybe even for himself but he had not considered how it would reflect upon his soulmate that felt the same pain as him. It had been inefficient but getting to Rogal was harder than you thought despite him being on Terra and moving around the palace where you worked most of the days. So you did what every other reasonable human would do.

You filed some paperwork, send your request directly to him and got an appointment. Now the stoic man was looking between you and the paper, trying to reconcile your request and how you both were connected.

“I believe we are soulmates my lord and your pain is also my pain.” you added and his body went still for a very long moment. You thought that he would see it as a bad joke at his expense and were ready to prove it to him through your own pain. Being a worker on terra was no joke after all. You needed to stay functional and his escapades needed to stop getting in your way. But only one thing went through his mind.

‘I need to rectify my miscalculation.’

“I apologize for our less than ideal meeting.” he said what appeared to be more stiff. Through his life Rogal had gone through many scenarios how he would meet his soulmate. After all he wanted to be ready no matter what life threw at him. Now despite you coming forward first he still felt lost.

“Now that we have that out of the way..what are our plans for courting each other? “ you asked and Rogal found himself slipping back into familiar waters. Somewhere he had already planned how he wanted to court his partner. Now he just needed your approval.

Konrad Curze

‘What an unfortunate soul you are.’ you heard his voice again in your head.

“I know.”

It all started when you found a sharp crown while searching for resources in the depths of a hive world. You did not know where it came from since it was too well made for such a filthy place, nor who it belonged to, clearly being too big for a normal human. You wanted to sell it but then you heard his voice for the first time.

‘It must be disgusting to be the soulmate of a corpse. Did it hurt when my head was cut off?’

And from then on he became your ghostly companion. You had not felt anything from your soulmate in years and now you knew the reason why. A fragment of a soul was trapped in his own jagged crown while his sons rampaged through the void. Could he even feel anymore? Konrad appeared before you like a shadow, looking down at you where you had laid down to sleep, holding the crown close to your chest. At least he did his name justice and haunted you nearly every night. Perhaps you were going insane or his own ability of seeing the future started to rub off on you. Why else would you be able to avoid danger like that? It was all the crowns fault.

“It’s useless to hold it so tenderly.” he said in a grave voice and you could not help but smile softly. You got used to having him around, hearing his voice in your head and seeing him in the shadows of the night. In a cruel world he was the only constant thing.

“If you die in your sleep your soul might get trapped alongside mine. Is that the fate you wish for?” he tilted his head, trying to discern your motives and it was hard to reconcile him to the mad monster he told you about. His ghost settled down beside your mattress, curling up while his obsidian eyes never left your face and you held the crown even closer.

“At least you wouldn’t be alone anymore.” you offered and for a moment he seemed to think over your words.

“You should go a different route tomorrow.” he said at last before disappearing again and leaving you alone in your room.

A sigh escaped your lips. You knew it would take time till you would get through to him. At least his words stopped being so cruel after months. But perhaps being trapped with someone you were always destined to be with wasn’t the worst fate in the universe. Perhaps you would grow to like each other.

Sanguinius

‘Horus…I need to find him..where is Horus.’ Sanguinius thought as he drifted through the endless and empty hallway, ready to meet his traitorous brother again.

But something or other someone was out of place and it tugged at his body. A dirty baseline was handling hot metal without much protection and he felt every small brunt. For a moment he forgot about his brother and the fury he felt and approached, making the human flinch in fear and back away. It was one of the crew but the uniform was different as well as the walls. Sanguinius wasn’t sure what kind of sorcery this was but the tug in his soul was unmistakable. In the midst of chaos he had found his soulmate. For a moment the anger returned and he advanced towards them with a snarl.

“Where is Horus? Where is the master of this ship?” he growled at the mortal which made them shuffle backwards. It didn’t matter if it was his soulmate. He would kill them too if they were a traitor.

“Horus? There…there is no Horus. You mean Abaddon?” you said unsure, making the angel hesitate. Did you not know who Horus was?

‘Ah..that means I’m…’

A sudden clarity washed over him in the presence of his soulmate. Horus wasn’t on the Vengeful Spirit anymore. The battle had been over for ten thousand years. His hand went right through you as he attempted to grab you, confirming that he had indeed been dead. The world moved on, but Sanguinius was stuck in the past, reliving his final hour over and over again. How much of it had you felt?

“I apologize for frightening you. That was not my intention..” he said hesitant as the walls around him became more akin to the present time. “It appears you have freed me even if I don’t know how to explain it..” the burns on his fingers still stung but at least his words made you take a step towards him. “All I can say it’s unfortunate that we had met this way.” and he himself couldn’t imagine being a slave, tied to a ghost who was cursed to relive his death on a cursed ship.

“No matter the circumstances of our meeting I will help you to escape and we will find my sons. They will accept you and you will suffer no more. I promise you that.” Sanguinius said with sudden determination. He had broken the cycle of death that held him trapped in the past. His spirit would move forward together with you till the very end.

Roboute Guilliman

‘If only I could find you…I would never be alone again.’

A Primarch returning was a grand event in a world torn by war and despair. It gave people hope to live yet another day and fight for the Imperium more vigorous than ever before. For Guilliman his awakening did him little good.

In this day and age he had no one. Everyone he knew was long dead. He should’ve expected it, that things would not last forever. A part of him knew it ever since Konor died but he had hoped that death would creep up slowly on them all, allowing him to process one loss at a time. But now Tarasha was dead, the fate of Aeonid still unknown, his beloved brothers sharing the same fate. That was not accounting all the stress and physical pain he felt.

He kneeled down to pick up a report that had fallen from his desk but his armor barely allowed room for casual movement and he hit his head against the table, letting out a curse. In the room beside his office something fell and his knees started to suddenly hurt along with his head. He heard a furious voice scolding someone. Standing up he had allowed his curiosity to guide him. A worker who had cleaned the windows had fallen, taking the ladder and bucket with them, staining the rug. They were clutching the back of their head while an overseer was yelling at them

“It’s…it’s not my fault! The pain in my head..” the crying worker started by was harshly interrupted by the overseer.

“You already had two weeks and you’re still hadn’t gotten better! At this point it’s easier to make you a servitor. I don’t want to hear anymore complaining about pain! Am I understood!? Now clean this mess!” with a huff the overseer stormed out, not noticing him standing in the opposite doorway. The poor worker started to pick up the bucket and sponge and he approached, grabbing the ladder and putting it upright.

“Need a hand?” he said allowing himself a friendly smile that he hadn’t worn in months. If that is truly who he thinks it is then he needed to give off a good first impression! It couldn’t be any harder than a simple campaign, right? He didn’t even remember the last time genuine excitement started to rise in his chest when you looked up at him.

Corvus Corax

Heretics.

It disgusted him to see Word Bearers and their servants walking around the ground and tainting the planets city. Corvus would tear them apart soon enough when they lowered their guard and would have no chance of escaping his shadow. Maybe his body would stop hurting too. It all started when he felt a searing pain at the nape of his neck and continued with pain on his legs and hands. Corvus knew his soulmate was in trouble but his search was still fruitless.

From his vantage point he could observe everyone without being noticed. Mortals were moving stones and building future temples while Astartes were herding them with whips and guns. Who of them were willing participants or forced to endure those cruelties was hard to say and while he was not fond to kill innocents it was a necessary evil in such places. Involuntary his eyes stopped on a small figure that had been pushed down by a Word Bearer to start working.

Beside a small cursed altar knelt a weeping servant on bruised knees, forced to build it up despite the sharp edges cutting into their hands and the blood making every tool slippery. If the identical pain wasn’t an indicator that it was his soulmate, the brand mark on their nape was more than enough to make it a likely possibility. A stray stone hit their shoulder and Corvus winced to himself when he felt the ache in his own bones.

He crept closer and before anyone noticed he snatched you into the shadow, putting a hand on your mouth before your scream could alert anyone. Corvus felt the struggling, the kicking of feet as he stifled you, waiting for you to loose consciousness. It was controlled and methodical but necessary even if he felt the pain himself. As soon as you stopped moving he put you into a safe dark corner, wiping away some stray tears from your face.

‘I will avenge your suffering.’

He would come back for you once he was done with his enemies and carry you away to safety, find a way to apologize for his rough treatment of you. Nevermore would you suffer by someone’s hands.

Vulkan

‘Just where could they be?’

Two kilometers away from you and he started to feel the pain.

Vulkan could feel his feet burning while he ran along the planets surface trying to reach his soulmate first. The pain was identical, you both were on the same fiery planet and it was as if his soul started to pull him to your direction. He always dreamed about the day he would meet his soulmate and now you were so close to him.

One kilometer away from you and he started to run.

It began when people were fleeing around him and his warriors. He searched the landscape with his eyes for the source of the panic. In the distance he saw a person running along the fiery stones in a desperate bid to escape the massive beast that kept pursuing you even when you lost your shoes and the coals burned into your skin.

Five hundred meters away from you and he could see you falter.

You were in his view, the creature opened its maw to devour you as your lungs burned and your body was slowing down. Past your head flew a hammer with such ferocity that you could’ve felt the wind and the beast let out a scream behind you. Past you ran a green giant in a blur of motion, retrieving his hammer and taking a second leap at the beast while a second one suddenly picked you up like a doll and Vulkan could feel the pain recede.

For a moment he stood there, allowing you to see him in all his glory, gems glittering, armor bright and a massive hammer in hand while the beast was slayed. His soul was singing in resonance with yours and he wanted you to see him in all his might and glory.

Zero meters away from you he had taken you from the Salamander, looking over you despite the Apothecary having already checked you and making sure to avoid any injuries.

“I’m glad to have finally found you, my dear soulmate!” he said with such affection, finally allowing his destiny to happen.

Leman Russ

‘Wherever you are I will find you and you will stop starving.’

Ever since Leman entered the warp he felt a hunger no amount of food could still and a cold that could never be replaced by a fire. Every day, if you could call it a day in the warp, he felt the pain in his stomach that never left him and he froze like he never did on Fenris. In front of his crew an abandoned ship floated around and he knew it was time for yet another dangerous maneuver.

It was time to board a dead vessel that had been lost in the warp.

They have fallen so low. Now they had to scavenge upon a dead ship in the middle of nowhere. It was as undignified for the great wolves as it was necessary if he wanted to keep his comrades alive..or rather what remained of them after years and years of battle. You never knew what you could get when you entered a dead ship. Sometimes they found crew that was still alive, sometimes they found food that wasn’t yet spoiled, sometimes it were daemons and xenos that waited for them, eagerly to taste their flesh.

This time it was mostly empty. Perhaps this vessel had been lost for years. No survivors were aboard and most food had been lost. It was disappointing and he would’ve left if not for a small beeping sound in the distance. In one of the rooms he found a still active stasis pod with a person inside of it! He felt as if an invisible hand had guided him to that room and he knew that you belonged to him.

The stasis pod hummed with depleting life and he knew that a few days more and it would give out completely and grant you a cold death with food reserves growing low and the heating system failing.

Was this fate? Did the all-father send you to him as a sign that it was enough?

Leman didn’t know if it had been fate that allowed you two to meet but he took the stasis pod with him and connected it to his own ship. Soon you would wake up and make the journey back home. He was away for long enough and besides he wanted to check how Bjorn was doing and the rest of his legions. A grad feast would do both of you good and if you got cold he would keep you warm in his arms.

‘It’s time to go home.’ he thought about Fenris again.

Jaghatai Khan

Time in between fights in the arena became blurry and useless. All that mattered was death and suffering displayed like art for cruel connoisseurs.

Charging into the dark city had not been the best plan he had but the hatred had burned so bright it had blinded his reason for a moment. In the end it had cost him his freedom and doomed him to fight in the grand arena, crushing not only xenos and monsters but also innocent lives. Perhaps it had been a mercy for them to fall into the embrace of death. It must be already a century since he was captured but he couldn’t be sure about that.

What he was sure about is that his soulmate was somewhere in here. Jaghatai could fell the strangers pain of torture on his skin by the tools of the Drukhari and he felt a consistent tug on his soul ever since he got to Commorragh.

The fight was over again, the corpse of a beast was at his feet and the crowd cheered in ecstasy at the perceived suffering and he used the brief period of time in between fights to looked around. How many unfortunate souls had been turned into grotesque decoration he couldn’t tell but everything seemed to pulse with life. Some were more fortunate, gaining the favor of their masters and standing beside them like servants or worse like pets.

He felt a sudden tug at his throat that made it hard to breath for a moment and his eyes landed on a smaller figure, being dressed in finery and yet being covered in old and fresh scars. In the upper spire he could see a slave kneeling beside a throne their master was sitting on, the xeno tugging at the chain around their throat as if reprimanding an unruly pet before pulling back their head by the hair, making a cut on the collarbone of the slave and letting the blood fall into the wine goblet as if it was a delicacy. Under the meager armor he felt the same pain and he frowned. Finally he had found his poor soulmate and no doubt they felt the same pain of his wounds.

‘Hold on a little longer. I will figure something out.’

Jaghatai would become better so that you would feel none of his wounds. Your eyes met for a small moment and he tried to convey that he recognized the connection. Now he had an objective that was worth fighting for. Sooner than later he would find a way to get you both out and burn this wretched place to the ground.

Magnus

‘Please do not avoid me’ he reached out telepathically again. ‘I’m just like you.’

This world was hostile. Not just towards the Imperium but also to people like you and him. The medieval world was exactly what he expected and was so alike to any other. Technology wasn’t yet invented and the unknown was treated with fear and myths. People who stood out too much or had powers no one could explain were persecuted as witches and evil sorcerers. A lot of things were easy to explain but it was pointless when no one was willing to listen.

Magnus had arrived in the far city at night time and descended upon the surface with his legion. Arriving at the exact moment of a witch burning. The flames leapt up and caught the legs of the poor person on the stake, blisters were foaming and they cried out in pain. Worst of all he felt the exact same pain under his armor and a moment of recognition passed over him before he acted. Nevermind the fact that he felt every single sting if the flames he plucked you from the fires with his bare hands. It pained you more than him perhaps but Magnus couldn’t waste a moment, too afraid that if he did the flames would consume you fully.

Banning the practice of witch burning would be easy as soon as the world was conquered. Healing your wounds even easier with his Apothecaries at hand that would ease the pain. Dealing with the aftermath on his ship was far from easy.

Out of his armor he looked less intimidating but not to you. As soon as you saw him you bolted from the medical bay and ran across the whole ship with him pursuing you and trying to get you back to the apothecaries. The strange place and devices frightened you after your brush with death and the massive red giant wasn’t any comfort to you even if he saved your life.

Magnus entered the vast library where you had hidden yourself from him, making as many obstacles to your mind as you could. He rounded the corner and found you in a crevice between two bookshelves where he would not be able to reach you without deconstructing half the library.

“Please I mean you no harm dear one.” he said again and sat down on the floor opposite from you. For a moment he wanted to tell you about the connection he felt to you but stopped himself. You would not listen to him in that state of fear. Your mind was revolving around your injuries and the strange giants around you. “If I call in a normal healer…will you at least come out and let them see your legs? The bandages are coming undone.” he said instead and after a moment he saw a hesitant nod from you.

It would be a long journey till he would get your trust but it was worth it for him. As long as he had you he had all the time in the universe to show you that the world was not always a place of cruelty.

Ferrus Manus

A week ago a piercing pain through his eye and skull has forced him to his knees. Now the pain was dull but constant.

‘What are they getting into again?’

Ferrus knew that by the pain that connected him, his soulmate was leading a harsh life. Why else would they experience constant pain? He was deep in thought when a servitor walked past him in his forge, the crippled body barely moving and as it tripped, a cable was torn out of its back, snagged by some stray equipment. Instantly he felt the same pain in his lower back and his head turned slowly to the body. It couldn’t be.

He approached the body lifting it up again and looked into the lifeless eyes that looked more like that of a corpse. It was a recent enough addition and his hands trembled as he put them back on their feet and swallowed hard. It couldn’t be them. He refused to believe it. Another cable was snatched sending searing pain through his stomach as the body collapsed in front of him.

There was no mistaking. That thing was his soulmate.

It was rare that something left him disturbed but for the first time in his life he felt a genuine bile rise from his stomach into his throat. Picking it up again was easy but this time he did not let it go.

“Spine compromised. Damage. Damage.” it said but Ferrus ignored it in favor of his son.

“When…when was this one added? They weren’t around before.” he said coldly but the calm was deceiving.

“Just last week my Lord Primarch.” one of his sons said, who worked alongside him. “The human had proven most competent on the battlefield and was given the honor to continue serving despite their grievous injuries.”

A week ago. The same time he had felt the pain, nor of his but of your lobotomy that turned you into a servitor. You had been so close to him and so far at the same time. After his denial came anger and despite everything he wanted to tear apart those who robbed him of the one who was supposed to stay beside him. But all he could do was to hold you in his arms, never knowing who you were and forever loosing the chance to see who you would become.

“Why? Is something the matter with this one Lord Pri—”

His son didn’t get to finish the sentence before Ferrus twisted the head of the servitor, ending it instantly and bowing his own head in pain. For a moment it was unbearable before it disappeared. It was the least he could do for a person he would never get the chance to love as the universe intended.

Mortarion

“We are an unlikely pair.” he said while you were tracing the scars around his back with your finger. He was the one who took life, you were the one who preserved it. You both could not exist on the same level and yet fate had other plans for you.

“It doesn’t matter.” you answered.

Most of his skin had been burned by acid and poisons by his so called ‘father’, leaving his body a mess of pain and suffering. While he had been immortal p, he had not been invincible. Mortarion did not hide that from you. After all you were a medicae and his soulmate.

Sometimes his curiosity got the better of him and on a distant, newly discovered planet he reached out to you to test the skills and knowledge of the people. After all why not? His collection of biological weapons was ever growing through it. Dodging a check up on a demi god was a task that a lot would shy away from. You had taken a glance at him and told him to show you his wounds, treating him like you would any other patient.

“The damage in the nerves is severe. The damage goes deeper than the skin.” you had said and it was nothing new for him. Mortarion knew that most things were irreversible but when you had hit your arm against the table he felt the sensation on his skin. He knew you belonged to him and he belonged to you. For a long time he had been able to feel the pain of a stranger.

‘I can barely feel your touch. Did your skin become just as numb as mine?’

Now ever since he met his other half he started to feel more than just pain. Your souls had connected to each other and he felt every soft stroke that you did upon your own body, every gentle touch and he hoped that someday he would fully feel you do the same on his own body. It was as distracting as it was exciting.

“It will take time for you to feel something again but I’m willing to give you the sensations you want.” you said with a small soft smile and he couldn’t deny you anything.

Angron

You were pulling at your hair again, holding your head as the pain became unbearable once more. But that was not your main concern.

You did not know who had said what but one moment you had been getting water for your refugee camp, the city burning in the distance from an assault of the supposed World Eaters and in the next you had been dragged into a thunderhawk by an Astartes without much explanation. You thought it would be the end of you. Then the pain started and you doubled over in your seat as it was stronger than usual.

You had felt pain all your life. Headaches could last days and become worse over hours but they never truly went away. At some point you got used to it, found ways to cope before your city was destroyed. After that you felt worse and no doctor could help you because there was simply nothing in your brain that would warrant such pain.

The pain subsided after minutes this time, you had landed a the Astartes unceremoniously dragged you through the corridors of the ship. The pain was slowly flaring up again but you tried to pull yourself together. And yet when you entered a room you fell to your knees, the Astartes was saying something but you could not hear it. Clearly it hadn’t been addressed to you either.

A massive man was sitting on the throne, weapon and armor tainted with dried blood while strange devices protruded from his head. It was terrifying to stand in the dim room that smelled of sweat, blood and gore before this leviathan but he made no move towards you. On the side stood an Astartes that had presented you subtly enough you could see there was a hint of hope in his eyes that was rare for superhuman soldiers. For a brief moment you dared to look up, meeting his heavy gaze and he opened his mouth for the first and last time in front of you.

“Go to the librarian. He will find a way to separate this bond.” he said gravely and the hope in the Astartes eyes disappeared before once more you were dragged away without complaining. You never got an explanation who it was or what had connected you two.

The doors closed and Angron eyes remained upon it for a moment longer before the pain flared up again and he heard you wail in the distance. This was the right decision. It was for the best.

‘You will not take part in my suffering any longer.’

Horus Lupercal

The rebel planet held his soulmate and he knew it. Call it a gut feeling but he had the feeling he had seen you during a skirmish, felt the pain and presence as something detonated nearby but before he managed to get you, you had disappeared between the buildings. But a Primarchs memory was good and a glimpse had been enough for him to give his soldiers a description and send them out to get you while he waited on the bridge of his ship.

He knew exactly when you were found, feeling when you were treated roughly or sustained small and insignificant injuries. Hours later a baseline was dragged in by an annoyed Abaddon who would’ve liked to kill the resisting nuisance instead of dealing with it. With a huff he dropped you off and was dismissed from his duty.

“No need to worry. I didn’t bring you here to kill you.” Horus said, mistaking your lack of movement as a sign of fear. He couldn’t blame you considering you were in his presence. “Why don’t you take a seat?” he continued but when you still made no move to approach he rose with a sigh from his seat. “Come now. I won’t hurt you…”

But when he came closer, reaching out with his hand you pointed a pocket knife at him but even without the knife he would’ve been dead if looks could kill.At least if he intended to kill you, you would go out defiant till the end. You saw how he raised one eyebrow and and stopped his advance. For a moment you were at a standoff, neither you nor he moved in this silent battle of wills but you didn’t back off even if his aura pressed down on you. Then he gave you a small smirk and took a step back, kneeling down to be on nearly the same eye level as you.

‘Very well.’ You had won this small battle, but Horus was sure he would win the silent war.

“If it makes it better I felt every painful touch too. We are connected after all.” he said with a charming smile “But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Why don’t we get to know each other first? Starting with your beautiful name?”

Lorgar Aurelian

“Do not run from me my angel.” Lorgar said softly as he pursued you through the empty chapel. “You know that we are meant to be together.”

Planets fell like dominoes before him. Especially when they were far from the protection of the Imperium. On one of those unfortunate planets he had found his soulmate. Oh how fortunate he was that you stumbled right in front of him, scrapping your knee and making him feel the pain that had bound you together by fate.

‘I have waited long enough for this!’

The statue of his father loomed over him as he entered the main room and with the blown out candles it looked more ominous. It was pointless to search protection in this empty house. No false god would protect you from fate and he was growing weary of chasing you when he could already hold you in his hands and cherish you in the way you deserve as his soulmate. A shame you couldn’t see it yet.

Lorgar took out a knife, plunging it into his own thigh, hitting his femur on purpose and ahead he could hear you scream out and stumble. He pulled it out with a wet sound and approached you slowly. His body would heal itself with ease but the pain would still be present for several minutes if not hours. To him it was nothing. To you it was everything and you were curled up on the floor, clutching your leg and hyperventilating.

“Sshhhh..It’s alright.” he said, taking your face into his hands and caressing your cheeks. “The pain is temporary and will give you the clarity you need.”

Despite everything you were still trying to writhe in his arms when he picked you up and he couldn’t help but admire your unbreakable spirit. Outside the planet was burning and when the smoke and the smell of blood of the impaled corpses of the so called faithful hit your nose you started to cry again but he shushed you with ease.

“Don’t cry about your loss. Instead rejoice that your planet will see the true light. Sicarus and it will be your new home and you will be happy.”

Alpharius/Omegon

“Where are you going?” one of the bald men said that had been following you for two weeks by now.

You hadn’t noticed him or rather them at first. The hab block on the hive world was always dark and your shifts were leaving you drained. Your body was trained at this point to return back home through the familiar alleys and corridors and the exhaustion made you only think about your bed. It was only through pure coincidence that you noticed an unknown presence when you heard one footstep too many behind you. From then on you were never alone.

First it was just stalking throughout your day. While unnerving nothing happened and it’s not like someone would’ve helped you anyways. Then food started to appear in your room when you couldn’t get any rations and were starving. From your peripheral vision you sometimes saw a flash of something greenish. One time someone there a small pebble against the back of your head and you cursed out the empty alleyway and you could’ve sworn that you heard some laughter from somewhere above. At least you knew from then on that it wasn’t just one person following you.

You had grow used to your silent companions and almost expected to feel their presence. You weren’t sure what their agenda was. Perhaps it had been some kind of test that you knew nothing about. Whatever it was you hoped it would not disturb your day any further. Maybe they could throw you a new bag for your tools through your window if they were already at it.

Today was different though and they have appeared to you in their weird teal armor, talking to you like they were talking about weather and weren’t the one who had followed you for two weeks.

“To work?” you said unimpressed by the feigned ignorance. ‘Don’t you dare to play coy with me now after stalking me for weeks.’

“Well you could go to work..” one of the twins said before the other added “but we have a different proposition for you..” and somehow you knew you would not be able to refuse.

"Cedric..." Jophiel called out, his eyes shining brightly as he tried to blink away the tears before they could fall. His lower lip was both split and trembling a little. He had a black eye and his wings were an absolute mess of twisted feathers. Some of them were even damaged or broken, and he was holding himself in a careful manner that spoke to either one of his arms being sprained or broken. "I need a bit of help, when you've got a minute..."

The young apothecary's eyes widened as he rushed over to the winged Blood Angel as the other swayed on his feet, catching him before Jophiel could fall more than a couple of inches "Of course, Jophie. You know that I'm here to help, whenever you need, however you need it."

"Thank you. I... I'm not sure how much longer I can stay standing, things got pretty... Pretty ugly out there." The young librarian in training admitted, leaning more of his weight onto Cedric. His ankles were swelling, bruised and had angry marks that looked like fingers wrapping around them.

Cedric swallowed hard, filling that information away as he carefully carried the other Primaris over to the exam table and setting him on it gently. It took him a couple of moments to summon the correct words to say, his hearts in an absolute storm of conflicting and stressed emotions "What happened, Jophiel? Where does it hurt the worst?"

"You know the pack of Space Wolf Blood Claws who keep causing problems?" Jophiel answered, pausing for a moment before saying "My wings hurt the worst. The bastards threw a weighted net over my wings while I was sparring with one of them and they demanded answers of me that I couldn't give them. They... Really didn't like that, and took it out on me. They only stopped with Nanael, Kerubiel and Claude showed up. I suppose they don't like it when the odds aren't in their favor."

Cedric did not know why the young pack of firstborn space wolves were being allowed to run roughshod over everyone with no consequences whatsoever by the higher ups. He had quietly reported every instance of bullying that the fuckers had done to himself, and to the others. Including Olly. He'd been told that their Sargant would speak to them about it, and was in charge of discipline. 

As far as Cedric could tell, said Sargent had done fuck all about it. His hands were careful, and gentle as he checked Jophiel over for injuries, asking "Can you give me more details about what happened? I know that those fuckers are..." He had. Many thoughts about those bastards, none of them were good or kind. "Privileged little bastards, but the more I can document about what they've done, perhaps this time they'll actually receive consequences." 

He doubted it, considering the fact that they'd physically bullied a baseline and had seemingly gotten a slap on the wrist for it. The preferential treatment was maddening, but not surprising. Cedric kept his fury and bloodlust under lock and key, so as to not radiate a murderous aura where Jophiel might be able to pick up on. He didn't want to further upset him. 

"I... There isn't much to tell, unfortunately. Ouch! Did you just pull one of my pin feathers?" Johpeil responds, wincing and peering over one shoulder at Cedric as he worked. "I was in one of the sparring rooms, practicing my hand to hand combat. I'd been in there for about an hour or so, and then Herliefr, Kolr, Baggi and Snorri came in. I said hello and I thought they'd ignored me, which was rude, but at least they weren't trying to start trouble. Again. Or so I thought."

"I had to remove it, it was badly bent out of shape and snapped in three different places." Cedric explains "Would you rather I give you a warning first? I'm going to have to pull at least a half a dozen more feathers. They really did a number on your wings." They would pay tenfold for this. He would make sure of it. For all of the stupid shit they've done and received no censure, not even a slap on the wrist for being shitty bastards. Jophiel had the least to do with what happened to their missing brother, after all. Targeting him just because they thought him to be the weakest and most vulnerable was shit behavior. Not that Cedric expected anything better from the four arrogant pieces of shit.  "Please continue explaining. Oh, and I hope you don't mind that I am recording this, in order to submit it to their superiors as further proof of their lack of discipline."

"No, I don't mind." Jophiel answers, shifting a little. Primaris marines who had behaved even half as poorly as the four of them had been in the far future would have been culled or sent on death missions until they either begged their superiors for clemency, or died. But... Firstborns always did give each other preferential treatment and more grace. And there was something else on the edges of his Sight. Something... Someone dangerous that the four of them knew about, that kept them from receiving more dire consequences for their actions. Which was still grox-shit, but unsurprising. He clears his throat and continues his report "Snorri and Baggi approached me, and asked to spar. I reminded both of them that we weren't supposed to spar one another unsupervised because they keep trying to bully my brothers. They... Didn't like that and attacked me. I hadn't realized that Herliefr and Kolr had  flanked me until I felt one of them grab my left wing."

Jophiel took a moment to catch his breath, pressing a hand against a couple of his ribs, panting a little, the room started spinning unpleasantly beneath and around him. 

Cedric let Jophiel take his time in gathering himself and his thoughts as he steadily worked to get the other's wings in order. From what his auspex told him, he needed to brace both of Jophiel's wings as the primary wing bones had hairline fractures. This damage was catalogued and noted. He also tallied the broken bones mentally on The List of things that the fuckers needed to pay for. "Take the time you need, brother." He was as gentle as he could be, under the circumstances. 

"I tried to fight them off, and to get up to the high ground, but one of them - either Herliefr or Kolr I'm not sure which - wrapped the weighted net around my wings and used that to drag me down to the ground. They asked me questions about Algerets' disappearance. I told them the truth, that I didn't know anything about his disappearance. They... Didn't seem to like that answer and started to kick me with their feet and occasionally hit me with one of their fists while repeating the same questions over and over again. I really don't know anything about what happened to their brother, though! Why... Why would they hurt me like this? I've only ever tried to be friendly and nice to them." Jophiel asked plaintively, sniffling a little as he tried not to burst into tears. 

"Because they assume that they are right and righteous, which means they think they have the right to bully, belittle and demean anyone who they think is obstructing them seeking the justice they assume that it is that they are seeking." Cedric answers, his voice low and trying to be consoling, even as his hands shook briefly in fury. Control, He needed to keep control of himself. "They're wrong, of course. But they refuse to see that. Is there anything else you'd like to report?" He prompted.

"Right! The rest of what happened. I don't know how long they were beating me up and trying to get answers I don't have out of me. Nanael came in through a window and dragged one of them off of me. Then Keru and Claude appeared - I think they did their teleporting tricks to get into the room as quick as possible and dragged two more off of them. And Thressl charged into the room through the door and punched the last one off of me. I managed to get up off of the floor and untangled from the net when some of the older first borns showed up and ordered everyone to stop fighting. I was ordered to report to the medbay while everyone else was being lectured about brawling without supervision." Jophiel finished, his bandaged wings curling in closer to his body. "I think they were scolding our brothers a bit more because you know. There were five of us and four of them so the numbers were unfair."

Cedric's hands tightened for a couple of moments as the rage threatens to overwhelm him again. He closes his eyes, taking  in a deep breath. The scent of JOphiel's distress and blood does little to help his fraying control over his temper. He opens his eyes, and Jophiel has gotten up off of the exam table and mid-flinging himself at Cedric. He catches Jophiel and hugs him close "Jophie?"

The younger primaris hides his face in one of Cedric's shoulders "I know you're angry. They aren't worth your fury, brother. I'll heal in time, and they'll stop at some point."

"... When? When will they stop? When will they be properly censured? When they attempt to kill another one of us? I can't stand by while they bully and hurt my loved ones any longer, Jophiel. But rest assured, what I do will not harm you or the others. That I will do my best to ensure."  Cedric answers, trying to keep the anger out of his voice. His hearts are full of care and fondness and a fury that is curdling into more hatred. 

"You love me?" Jophiel asks, his voice small and unsure.

"Always." Cedric answers, smiling tenderly at the Blood Angel. He means it with all of his hearts as well, although he is quite certain Jophiel misinterprets what he means. He's dating someone else, for one thing. Someone more confident, someone more sure of himself and likely kinder. He's good for Jophie, which is all Cedric can ask of anyone. 

Jophiel beams and cuddles Cedric closer "I love you too, brother! I did message Tomas earlier, and he's in the waiting room, going to be my safety buddy."

He resists the urge to press a kiss to the other's forehead as he hugs Jophiel a little closer "Good. I've patched up all of the wounds I know about, do you need more time, or are you ready to head out?" He has a bunch of paperwork waiting for him and he knows that there are more patients who need to be seen. But he will linger with Jophiel for as long as the other needs him. 

The young Blood Angel hugs him for a little while longer before letting go. "I'm going to head out now. I know you're really busy and on duty today. See you later."