Chapter Text
Footsteps echoed down the hallway as the guards went to collect the next batch of prisoners for testing. Peter pressed himself against the wall as they went by, counting breaths until they were gone. He slipped out of the alcove he had pressed himself into and ran softly down the hallway. Now that the guards had gone to collect more prisoners, his absence would be noticed. He had to get out of there before the alarm could be raised.
Peter pulled on a cloak he found left in one of the servant’s quarters and mimicked the slightly hunched walk that was so common here, slipping unnoticed through the gates among a large throng of people. As he passed under the portcullis, he heard an alarm going up behind him and smirked. As soon as he was out of eyeshot of the castle, he broke into a run.
Rasbach was standing in contemplation, staring at the map tacked up on his wall. A knock on the door interrupted his reverie.
“Come in,” he called brusquely.
“My lord,” came the slightly gruff reply, and Rasbach turned to face his captain of the guard, Juno Steel.
“Tell me, Captain Steel, for why have you interrupted me?
“I came to tell you, sir, that one of the prisoners has disappeared.”
“Disappeared? But surely, that must mean he has escaped, no?”
“Yes, I-”
“And is it not your job, Captain Steel,” Rasbach’s voice got low and dangerous, “To make sure that the prisoners do not escape?”
Juno’s voice got flat and cold as he answered Rasbach.
“Yes, it is.”
“And furthermore,” Rasbach continued, walking around the edge of the desk to stand directly in front of Juno, “Is this fortress not supposed to be inescapable? Perhaps you can... explain to me how a prisoner managed to slip past all of your people and escape without a trace.” He turned his back on Juno and waved a hand dismissively. “Go. I am done with your excuses.”
“Sir. The prisoner who escaped-” Juno paused, his voice hesitant, “It was the Angel.”
Rasbach stilled and turned slowly back to face Juno.
“The Angel?”
Juno nodded affirmation.
“Then I suppose,” Rasbach said, his voice deadly quiet, “You had best retrieve him, or it will be your head instead of his. GO.”
Peter stumbled into the outskirts of a town, feet aching and lungs gasping. He took a moment to smooth himself down and at least attempt to flatten his hair, then slipped closer. It was a short walk from the edge of town where the buildings were sparse to where they were built a little closer together. There were few people out and about, but Peter made sure to run into at least one. The man looked well off, so Peter didn’t feel too badly about relieving him of the purse the man carried inside his tunic. Thus equipped, he made his way into a likely looking tavern.
The Inn was almost as empty as the street outside, the only other patrons a group cloaked people at the table in the corner and a lone woman at the bar looking like she was trying to drink herself into a stupor. Peter would have left again, this being too few people to really become unnoticeable in, but the bartender had already noticed him and called out a greeting. He returned it with a wave and a smile, walking up to the bar. As he walked in, one of the cloaked figures rose and passed him on their way to the door. There was the clink of metal as they brushed past Peter, but he paid it now mind.
“What can I get for you, stranger?” The bartender asked with a friendly smile. If Peter had been less tired, he would have noticed just how forced the smile was, or the beads of nervous sweat pooling on the bartender’s forehead. But Peter had been on the move for hours now and was holding himself upright through determination, and so missed all of that.
“A drink of water?” Peter asked, perching himself on a stool. “It’s been a long day, and my throat is parched from travelling.”
The bartender nodded, pulling down a mug.
“Where are you travelling from, that you’re so tired?”
“Oh, here and there,” Peter said, waving his hand vaguely, “My sister has had a child and I’m on my way to see her.”
“A worthy goal, stranger. Do you plan on staying in town long?”
Peter laughed mildly, waving his hand airily for emphasis. “Not longer than I can help it, I’m afraid! I told her I would have been there a week ago, and yet I still have at least three days travel! Being on foot alone is a terribly slow way to travel, I’m afraid.”
“I see. Still, the day wears on. Nightfall is worryingly soon, and there have been stories of wolves in the woods as of late. Perhaps it would be best if you stayed the night here?”
“Perhaps…” repeated Peter, eyeing the bartender suspiciously. Their persistent enthusiasm had finally started to break through his weariness. “Still, there is a good amount of daylight left, and I have far to go. So I thank you for the water and the offer of rest, but I really must be going-”
“Oh no, friend stranger,” a new voice said, “I think you’ll be staying right here.” A hand fell heavily on Peter’s shoulder, pinning him and halting his rise from the stool.
Peter’s heart picked up its pace, but he forced himself to stay calm. The warble in his voice when he spoke was only half forced.
“What can I help you with, sir?”
The man whose mailed hand weighed so heavily on his shoulder huffed a laugh.
“There’s no need for pretenses anymore. You’re coming back to Cerberus with me, without fuss. You play nice with us, Angel, and we’ll play nice with you.”
Peter stilled at the mention of his nickname, but didn’t drop the bluff.
“Please, I’m sure you must have me confused with someone else! I’m not this “Angel,” my name is Horatio-”
The door burst open, interrupting Peter, as the cloaked figure that had pushed past him earlier came back in followed by another person wearing a long cloak. This time, though, it was someone that Peter knew. Captain Juno Steel, head of the Board of Fresh Starts’ guardsmen. He smiled at Peter, but it was not a friendly smile.
“Ah, Angel. So good of you to join us.”
“Captain Steel,” Peter acknowledged coldly, nodding briefly.
“The Angel of Brahma, so elusive for so many years—hell, you even managed to break out of Cerberus , and yet here I find you in the first town I look.” Captain Steel walked closer, his armor clinking softly. “How the mighty have fallen.”
“Well, you see-”
Peter was cut off again by the arrival of another person in a long cloak, this time black instead of the dark brown of the other guards (who Peter now realized were the group sitting at the back table) or the bright red of Captain Steel. They were brandishing a rather large crossbow.
“Juno,” the woman said, pushing her hood back and revealing a stunningly beautiful face half covered by a shock of thick red hair, “I didn’t expect to run into you here, but here we are.”
“Captain Aurinko!” The man holding down Peter’s shoulder exclaimed in surprise, turning towards the door and letting go of Peter. Captain Steel made a sharp gesture and turned to face the newcomer.
“Buddy,” he said coldly, “What are you doing here?”
“I should say the same thing of you, Juno. I didn’t that Rasbach usually let his prized dog go so far off the leash.”
“It’s Captain Steel now,” he growled.
“So I’ve heard.”
She sighed, shaking her head sadly.
“I really hoped it wouldn’t come to this, Juno.”
“You and I both know this is what it has to come down to.”
All attention in the room was focused on Aurinko where she stood in the doorway, so Peter decided that this was his best shot to try and slink out of the room unnoticed. He slid off of the stool and started to slowly back towards the rear of the room where he had already noticed a door. Steel drew his sword and pointed it at Peter without even looking and Peter froze.
“Don’t go anywhere, Ransom, I’m not done with you yet.” He pointed it back at Aurinko who regarded him sadly. “Buddy Aurinko, I am arresting you for crimes against the Board. In the name of the Board, I charge you to surrender and come quietly, and if you do so I can promise you that no harm will come to you. Come with me to Cerberus Keep and I swear that you will have a fair trial.”
“Oh Juno,” Aurinko laughed hollowly, “You and I both know that Rasbach will allow no such thing. He’ll run a quick trial behind closed doors and execute me in public as an example to all who dare disobey him. Much like this poor fool you’ve trapped here.”
Peter bristled involuntarily at the casual insult.
“Surrender,” Steel said again, more forcefully.
“I can’t.”
“Then draw your sword and stand against me!”
“No.”
Steel roared and lunged towards Aurinko.
“Fight, damn you!”
She dodged quickly to the side and kicked out with one foot as Steel’s sword flashed past her, trapping the flat of the blade between her boot and the door frame. She struck down towards his wrists with the crossbow, making him let go and skip backwards to avoid being hit. The rest of the guards had jumped to their feet as well, shoving back chairs and drawing swords. Steel barked an order and they moved swiftly into formation behind him. Peter, seeing his opportunity, quickly ducked behind the bar. The bartender was huddling underneath it as well.
“Quickly, my friend, where is your back door?” Peter hissed.
They gestured vaguely back through the kitchen, terrified, and Peter clapped their shoulder in thanks.
As soon as he was able, he slipped out and started running again, ignoring the sounds of fighting from the other side of the bar.
He had just made it to the outskirts of town when he heard the sound of hoofbeats pounding behind him. Peter dared a glance back over his shoulder and was relieved to see that instead of the brown or red of the guards, this rider wore a black cloak. He was less relieved when he realized that they really were chasing him down. He tried to avoid them by dodging into the bushes along the side of the road, but just as he was diving he felt a strong hand grab his upper arm and haul him back.
“Get on,” Aurinko hissed in his face, as that was who had caught him, and he obeyed.
Clasping his hands awkwardly around her waist, he held on tightly as Aurinko urged her horse on even faster.
Aurinko stopped and Peter slid off the horse. He meant to land gracefully and start running as soon as he landed, but his legs wobbled and collapsed underneath himself as soon as he put weight on them.
“We rest here for the night, Aurinko said and swung down gracefully, her cloak swirling around her.
“It’s not yet sunset,” Peter said curiously, pulling himself up carefully, using the saddle as a support, “Surely there is at least another hour of travel we can get?”
“I don’t travel at night,” she said over her shoulder, pulling things out of the saddlebags to set up a campsite.
“Can I...ask why?”
“I’d really rather you didn’t,” she said dryly.
“Then can I ask why you brought me with you?”
She sighed, then turned to face him.
“I suppose you can. I brought you because I need you . Peter Ransom, Angel of Brahma, the only person to escape the walls of Rasbach’s prison alive. I need you to help me kill a man.”
“...I don’t follow you.”
“There is a man that I am going to kill and you are going to help me do it.”
“And what makes you so sure I’m going to go along with this?”
“I’ve seen your record, Ransom. The Angel has left his fingerprints all over this land, and I need the talents that made that possible.”
“I’m sorry, I can’t help you with that, I’m just going to-” Peter tried to step away from the horse and felt his legs collapse underneath him again.
Aurinko regarded him dryly, one eyebrow raised. “Not much of a rider, are you?”
Peter just huffed in embarrassed indignation.
“Well, if you’re just going to lie there, at least start massaging the muscles. It’ll help keep the cramps from forming.”
He grumbled, but started doing as she had suggested while she competently set up the camp. A hawk cry sounded above them and Aurinko paused a moment in her activities, holding up her heavily gloved hand. There was a sudden soft flap of wings as a hawk landed on her outstretched arm. Peter watched from his position on the ground as Aurinko cooed to the bird, petting its feathers softly. She shifted the bird onto a stand attached to the saddle that Peter hadn’t noticed before, feeding it some strips of dried meat out of a pocket.
The sun was nearing the horizon by the time she finished and came over to Peter. He hadn’t moved from where he’d fallen the second time, feeling the exhaustion of his running compounded with the fatigue from the unfamiliar ride wash over him.
“Up you get,” she said, grabbing the front of his shirt and hauling him upwards rather effortlessly. He was so tired that he didn’t even realize what she was doing until Aurinko had leaned him against a tree and was deftly tying him up.
“Wait, what-”
“This is as much for your safety as for mine,” she said, ignoring his protests. “If you go running off in the middle of the night, I can’t promise what you’ll find. If you stay near the fire, however, I can at least assure you of that much protection.
“Goodnight Angel,” she called over her shoulder, ducking into the tent with the hawk’s stand she had removed from the saddle.
Peter groaned, thudding his head back against the tree and silently cursing the exhaustion that had made his mind so fuzzy. He decided to wait at least until after the sun had set fully until working himself free in the hopes that Aurinko would have fallen asleep. Settling into the support of the ropes, he let himself relax, feeling his eyes slide shut.
Peter woke up and it was dark. The fire had burned low, the coals still glowing with a faint orange, and he blinked a couple of times, trying to reorient himself. All was quiet, so he started working at the ropes. Aurinko had positioned the knots so that none were in reach of his long fingers, but she had failed to take the knife he kept hidden at the small of his back. He freed himself easily and stood up quietly in order to not wake Captain Aurinko where she slept in her tent. He backed away slowly, watching and listening carefully for any sign that Aurinko had heard anything. When he was satisfied, he turned slowly to slip away more easily into the forest, then froze as he came face to face with a knife, glinting sharply in the light of the dying fire.
“Who the hell are you,” a hoarse voice hissed in the darkness, “And what are you doing in Buddy’s camp?”