Chapter Text
Azrael and Lianne stood in an empty room together with only a lone record player accompanying them. In there, the only thing that worried them was them. Azrael turned on the record player and held his hand out, Lianne smiled and took it. Terra was the place where they could forget their worries, where Azrael could be Azrael and not Duke; Where Lianne could forget her grief and be happy again. Azrael led Lianne around the room, swaying to the old record player. It was little things like this that always made their days; Azrael traveled his hands down to Lianne’s waist, he held her ever so gently, he didn’t want to hurt her or…worse. He couldn’t bear the thought of losing her. His black lace gloves matched wonderfully with the dress he had gotten her; it was white but the sides had black lacing and white beads. The sleeves fell off her shoulders and her white hair curled around her face, leaving Azrael in awe of her. Lianne was so warm compared to how cold Azrael was.
As they danced, plants started to sprout as Lianne moved; and then they started to wither and die as Azrael followed. Lianne laid her head on Azrael’s shoulder and wrapped her arms underneath his, and held him close. She listened to his faint heartbeat and that’s all she could focus on; It calmed her down even if it was barely there. But he was death, so it was surprising that he had a heartbeat at all. Lianne moved one of her hands and placed it on Azrael’s chest, she helped the heartbeat become more lively, more present. Azrael was shocked every time she did that since he’s never felt his heartbeat fully. It was odd to feel it pounding at his chest like it wanted to get out and explode. Lianne looked at Azrael and saw the shock in his eyes, she placed her free hand on his cheek. “Azrael?”
She broke the silence between them and her voice was silky and angelic, very different from Azrael’s brittle yet smooth voice. He looked at her eyes, they were filled with worry. Azrael placed his hand on top of hers, “I’m alright, don’t worry. You worry enough.”
Lianne protested and then sighed, “But- alright. It’s just us anyways…But if I may, I have a question.”
Azrael nodded, “I know, but he’s alright. Pyria is looking after him, just like you asked her to do, even if she has to spend her time here. And if she can’t, I do. So don’t worry, he’s alright.”
Lianne sighed in relief and laid in Azrael’s arms, “Thank you…so much. I know I should do something, say something to him. But I just can’t find the courage, because I know I’d want to take him home and pretend like nothing happened when so much did. And he would hate that, it’s Lucifer, of course he would. He doesn’t move on from things like that easily. If he just let me talk instead of storming off, maybe this would be different.”
Azrael held her and just listened. He knew he couldn’t change any of this but he wanted to, just to make her happier. Just to see her smile and not because of something he did, like dancing in an abandoned room. He finally spoke, “What happened is something we can’t control, even if we are Life and Death. The only one that could would be time and well…who knows where she is.”
Lianne sighed, “You have a point.”
Azrael lifted her head gently, “I know I do”
Azrael had completely forgotten about the heart-pounding at his chest before silence captured the room again, but he still found some comfort in it even if he wasn’t used to it. He placed his hand on top of Lianne’s on his chest; Azrael was always gentle, he had to be or else he’d fear what would happen if not. He didn’t want to hurt her, he didn’t want to hurt anyone. And Lianne? She just wanted to be at peace with her mind for once.