[Fic] Playing With Fire (SPN. Gabriel/Kali. PG-13)
The unbelievable happens: I write! Granted, I had help. I needed it, too ;)
This story was written for spacefragments who gave me a lovely prompt to play with at spnrarepairs.
Title: Playing With Fire
Pairing: Gabriel / Kali.
Rating: PG-13 / T
Word Count 8242.
Warnings: Spoilers up to episode 5.19, Hammer of the Gods. A little language, a little violence and naturally, a whole lot of UST and innuendo.
Summary: An archangel incognito and the Goddess of destruction. They came, snarked...and still got together in the end. A story about an ancient monster, a couple of misunderstandings, bad weather and a Trickster with a fool-proof plan that turns out to be a fool's plan instead.
Notes: I had the honor to work with two outstanding and superb beta readers, icelily01 and painted_pain who didn't get nearly as much appreciation from me as they deserve. You ladies are awesome and deserve embarrassing amounts of praise for your kind and competent help. I honestly don't know what I would have done without you. Thank you so very much ♥
Another big "THANK YOU" goes to spacefragments for giving me such an awesome prompt. I loved working on this.
Disclaimer: SPN and all recognizable characters are owned by their various creators. No copyright infringement intended.
Playing With Fire
Gabriel, one of Heaven's most fearsome weapons, is well on his way to getting drunk off his ass. Of course, that's easier said than done when you're an archangel incognito and whatever heavenly mojo you possess, is currently burning the alcohol almost as quickly as you can pour it into your vessel.
However, Gabriel is nothing if not persistent. His mind set firmly on his goal, he downs another drink and if he does it quickly enough, he can feel the faintest buzz and the old run-down pub he finds himself in, blurs nicely into a mixture of dark blue, green and brown hues.
"I'll have another one of these." He informs the barman and taps the tiny pink umbrella that decorates his empty glass. "And don't be stingy with the sweetener."
The barman, an old jovial-looking man with a nose vaguely resembling a battered potato, gives Gabriel a wide, gap-toothed smile. "Say, Trickster, you can really hold your liquor, can't you?"
Gabriel nods and once again questions the wisdom of frequenting 'Silenus' Tavern', watering-place for Gods, demi-gods and pretty much every supernatural creature you can imagine, if you are to believe Silenus' advertisements.
It's the place where you get your Bloody Mary with real blood and where - theoretically - you can sit down next to a Wendigo, munching away on his person-burger and Artemis, Greek Goddess of the hunt, the wilderness and fertility. Though she doesn't take it too well if you use the latter word as a pick up line as Gabriel found out (most painfully) during his first visit at the place.
He also found out that theoretically this place is supernatural Switzerland, as neutral as you can go, but the pact ends the moment you step out into the parking lot, where - keeping things confined to Gabriel's little mental example - the Wendigo would quickly find himself poked in the rear by one of Artemis' arrows and there'd be a lot of cleaning up to do for Silenus. So the creatures of dubious character keep far away from the Tavern, making a Trickster a prime subject for dirty glances being thrown by demi-gods on their third helping of ale, or other drink of choice. Part of Gabriel admits that he enjoys the danger. Not that any of them actually stand a chance against him, but that's beside the point. He's in a place where he gets great drinks, a never-ending supply of sweets and - best of all - his mere presence riles up the other customers.
Sometimes, Gabriel muses, life is good and he could have picked a worse place to spend some time at, before he decides on where to wield his special brand of justice next. He accepts the next drink with a grateful nod and raises his glass in salute to some dark-clad figure who has been spending the past hours glaring daggers into Gabriel's back. A tiny, self-satisfied grin tugs on the corners of Gabriel's lips. He is perfectly fine with the way his life is going right now.
Still wearing that infamous smirk, he brings the glass to his lips and pulls the candied cherry off the small umbrella decorating his drink.
And that is when Gabriel first sees her - he's frozen in mid-movement, the cherry between his teeth and just a tiny bit of sweet liquid trickling and onto his chin. If he were a cartoon, his eyes would be popping out of their sockets right now and his tongue would be hanging down right to the floor. As it is, Gabriel's jaw merely slackens, the candied fruit falling out of his mouth and back into the cocktail, which, in turn, draws Silenus' attention. The barman's gaze travels quickly between Gabriel and her and he pales.
"Don't do it." Silenus tells the Trickster, alarmed by the other man's predatory smile. "Don't even think about it."
Gabriel, with a massive effort of will, drags his eyes away from the long, long shapely dark legs and spares Silenus a brief glance. "I'm not doing anything." He says, fully aware of the unspoken 'yet' filling the silence loudly.
"Seriously, Trickster." Silenus insists, wiping his hands frantically on his apron in a nervous gesture. "Do you even know who she is? She's-"
"Kali." They say at the same time and as if sensing that the men are discussing her, she turns around. She spares Silenus a cursory glance, acknowledging him as an old, albeit harmless acquaintance, before her gaze settles on Gabriel. Their eyes lock and he can feel the danger she calmly radiates across the room. Any sane person would avert their eyes and run for cover, tail firmly between their legs. However, 'sane' has never been a word to describe Gabriel - even back when he ran with the heavenly brigade and surely not now. He raises his glass to her, waggling his eyebrows suggestively and for the fraction of a second Gabriel is convinced he sees surprise on her face, before it settles back into the smooth, neutral expression she had been wearing before. Only mixed with a thinly disguised spark of disdain that says plainly 'You're out of my league, little man.' Naturally, this only spurns Gabriel on.
"Give me her favorite drink. Now." He orders and doesn't even bother to unglue his eyes from her legs this time and Silenus, sensing that there is no way he can keep his alcohol-proof customer from doing something extremely stupid, complies silently.
"It's your funeral." Silenus sighs and watches Gabriel approach the Goddess of Destruction.
~ * ~
In contrast to what people may believe, being a goddess includes a bit more than just holding rites, blessing crops or making it rain. Kali, in particular, feels the weight of responsibility on her shoulders tonight. It's not just about the taking, but about the giving as well. About the protecting.
That is what has brought her to the Tavern. She freely admits that for the most part mankind is doing a pretty decent job disposing of the average demon or creature of the underworld. Vampires, ghouls, ghosts - that peculiar brand of humans that call themselves "Hunters" seem to have a grip on the situation, believing arrogantly that there's nothing they and their man-made weapons cannot handle. Naturally Kali knows better, especially considering that she is among the first line of defense against the things hunters can't even imagine in their worst nightmares.
In particular, the specimen she is currently hunting (and she will firmly deny that she enjoys the thrill of the hunt in the first place!). A trail of local aridity, with what little water is left turning into acid, focused on little more than a radius of a mile or so has led her halfway through Asia until it made a jump to reappear somewhere in Ireland. It's not the aridity itself that draws Kali's attention, but rather some gut feeling that insists it's the symptom of something really nasty. And yet she didn't step in before a couple of Asian hunters, following the same trail she did, faced the creature - with fatal consequences. They vanished without a trace, leaving behind only their camping equipment which looked completely untouched, but no sign of life.
It's like something just snatched them out of reality and that is something Kali isn't willing to allow. Those hunters had been some of her followers, which makes things offensive enough that she feels compelled to step in personally.
She is just about to approach the shivering leprechaun, the only living witness of the monster's latest attack, waiting for her at the corner table just as she has requested, when she senses someone approaching her.
"No." She says calmly, without turning around.
"I haven't said anything." Gabriel replies, drinking in the delicate curve of her neck. He steps a little closer, making sure his breath grazes her skin.
"And yet I do not require anything you may offer." Kali answers firmly, still keeping her back to him, but her hands ball into fists. The nerve of him!
"No." Gabriel shrugs and smiles in delight as he spots tiny goosebumps on the back of her neck. "But you may enjoy it."
Kali smiles before she can stop it, then quickly rearranges her face into a neutral expression before turning around. She is stubborn - always has been - and refuses to give any ground, so the moment he no longer faces her back, they're standing nose to nose, only a thin layer of air and two cocktails between them. "I doubt you have any idea what I enjoy."
"Try me." Gabriel replies as his heart skips a beat. He hasn't had so much fun since meeting his brothers' destined vessels, the troublesome Winchester boys. The only exception being that he never had the urge to grab any of the boys and get a room, privacy and some sweets. "Try me." He repeats, not backing down either.
Kali makes a face as if she's about to sneeze and huffs - a sound somewhere between indignation and amusement. "You wouldn't like it if I did."
"Why don't you let me handle that problem?"
"Do you have a death wish?" Kali asks, attempting to find out whether the stranger is incredibly brave or incredibly stupid. As it is, she senses something about him that she can't place. Some sort of lower pagan god perhaps?
"I like to live dangerously," Gabriel assures her and feels a surge of triumph when he notices a very small smile on her face.
"I can help you with that." Kali hears herself say, before she turns around and leaves in the direction of the unlucky leprechaun. She makes sure to sway her hips just a tiny bit more than usual. "Bring the drinks," she orders.
Kali never realizes that by the time Gabriel joins her at the table and she's interrogating the leprechaun, she's still smiling.
~*~
It has been three days now since they first met at Silenus' Tavern and still Gabriel isn't any closer to his goal. Any of them, really, as Kali stubbornly insists ignoring his amorous advances and the thing they're hunting refuses to be found.
On the other hand, they have seen quite a lot of Ireland's countryside and Gabriel has suffered though enough rain to last him a life-time. At least they've found themselves a nice place to stay at. Old-fashioned rugs covering the stone floors, portraits of important-looking men in wigs and - best of all - waterbeds and mirrors on the ceiling. Of course Kali insists they get separate rooms but once again, just as it was the case when she brushed off his advances on their first meeting, Gabriel decides to take this as a challenge. After all, this is all he's after, he keeps telling himself. He wants a little fun and since Kali is more than capable of taking care of herself, Gabriel figures it's fine to tag along for the time being. Truth be told, he has done his share of research and knows exactly what will happen when Kali takes down the monster. He knows that, despite the serene attitude she likes to project, she is thrilled by the hunt and once she has had her kill..well, that's exactly when Gabriel plans to make his move and offer to help her blow off some steam. Certainly worth the wait. He doesn't realize he's licking his lips in anticipation until Kali clears her throat and abruptly yanks him back into the present - which happens to take place at their table in a five-star restaurant.
"If you start drooling, I'm going to leave." She informs him, her voice silky smooth and oh-so full of disdain. He really shouldn't find this attractive, Gabriel muses, but he does. Donning a wide smile, he shrugs nonchalantly.
"What if I told you that I'm captivated by your beauty? Losing control of my body functions and all that."
Kali raises a perfect eyebrow. "Then I would still insist that oral incontinence is not attractive in my eyes."
"How about verbal incontinence? Because I think I've got that one fatally."
Her lips twitch in amusement and Gabriel feels the sweet rush of triumph.
"I noticed." Kali says quietly, the smile now evident on her face and Gabriel immediately seizes the opportunity. He reaches out to take her hand - and that's when the waiter arrives. Gabriel bites back some comments that would shatter his fellow angels' halos with indignation. They quickly place their orders (Kali would like her steak bloody. Very bloody, if you don't mind.) and the moment the waiter has left, Gabriel is right back on track. But the moment has passed and Kali is back being her business-like self. Gabriel sighs and takes a sip of his drink instead.
"Back to the job at hand." Kali says and leans forward. "We have followed the droughts to this place. The last incident was two days ago, the water of a fountain turning into acid, but since then? Nothing." She frowns just a little bit. "This doesn't fit into the creature's behavioral patterns and...am I boring you?" Her voice takes on a steely note.
"You could never bore me." Gabriel replies reflexively and gives her a charming smile that remains completely without effect. "I just fail to see why it's a bad thing that the creature stopped. Perhaps it noticed it's being hunted and opted for retirement?"
Kali gives him an incredulous look. "Retirement." She says in a disbelieving tone.
"Yeah. Perhaps we should go look for it in Florida instead."
Kali sighs and wearily massages her temples. She looks uncharacteristically worn out. Not that anyone would notice, unless they had been paying very close attention to her, and Gabriel, little perfectionist that he is, has done nothing else during the past days they spent together.
Nevertheless it hits him as surprise - she really does care. She really does make an effort to keep people safe and that realization does something to a part inside of Gabriel that the archangel thought he'd buried centuries ago. He's not entirely sure how he feels about that. Instead of allowing that unfamiliar and unwelcome feeling of responsibility to resurface, he reaches out for Kali's hand - interruptions by waiters, earthquakes or boybands be damned, and gently strokes the back of her hand with his thumb. He's mildly surprised she doesn't protest, but for once isn't interested in taking advantage of the fact.
"Let's review what we have again, okay?" He says and keeps rubbing lazy circles on Kali's hand. "The first incident happened in central Asia in late March. The hunters got suspicious around early April and started picking up its trail. So far we've only got droughts and the occasional incident of water turning into acid...which piqued your interest but you chose to observe how the hunters would fare before you decide whether or not to step in."
He doesn't realize Kali is looking at him differently until she moves her hand, turning the palm up and intertwines her fingers with his. He momentarily loses steam and blinks in confusion. A satisfied smile flashes over Kali's face and is gone as quickly as it appeared. It is now her hand that is caressing his and Gabriel finds this to have a decidedly destabilizing effect on his capability of coherent thought. Her fingernail gently scratches across his palm and Gabriel's mouth goes dry. The corners of Kali's lips turn up into a smile.
"I observed the hunters." She confirms and the combination of her voice, darker and deeper than he has come to expect from a woman, and her hands in his, almost turn Gabriel's brain into jelly. Turns out that his brain isn't the only part of his anatomy Kali affects and though part of him desperately wants to go with that feeling, the small voice of reason he has managed to quiet for so long, insists that it's important to listen. That what their mission - when has it become "theirs" anyway, Gabriel wonders - is important. He makes a tremendous effort to keep focused on what Kali says and not what she does. He feels like a martyr.
"You watched them." Gabriel says and his voice is just a tiny bit shakier than usual.
"I did." Kali confirms. "Or rather I checked in on them regularly until..." She hesitates, momentarily lost in a memory of carnage and destruction. "There was an attack on a village but I didn't get there until it was too late. The village was empty. Not a living soul, not a human one, anyway. The animals were left, many of which were mutilated and dying." Her voice shakes and unconsciously her fingers hold on to Gabriel's more tightly. She pauses for a brief moment before she continues.
"There was no trace left of any human being - nor any water. Even the earth itself was desiccated and dry, the plants withered and dying in puddles of acid." She looks down on their hands unseeingly and when she raises her head again, her gaze is filled with a hatred and determination that make Gabriel recall with a start why this woman is called the Goddess of Destruction.
"I knew right then, that I had to handle things personally." She says, looking fierce. "Night fell and I went to see the hunters - and again I came too late. Their camp had been destroyed and they vanished without a trace. I went looking for the creature but couldn't find anything but its path of draught and exsiccation. I hunted it across Asia but it's clever. It hid and I lost its trail...until a leprechaun claimed to have spotted it in Ireland."
Gabriel nods. "The leprechaun we talked to at the Tavern."
"The very one." Kali agrees and lets out a huff of frustration. "Not that he was too helpful."
He squeezes her hand and smiles reassuringly. "But you got a new trace and - best of all - you got me."
That earns him a chuckle as she squeezes back. "A Trickster." She says, not unkindly.
"The Trickster." He corrects. "Master of the trade."
"Too bad we don't plan to prank the creature."
"I do killing, too, if necessary." Gabriel says and there's something in his voice that catches her attention. Kali studies him for a moment with a curious expression, then nods slowly.
"I believe you." She says softly. "But first we need to find it."
"Which brings us back to what little we know. So our hunters died in late April."
"April 24th." Kali specifies. "The village was attacked on April 23rd and the hunters died the next night."
Gabriel frowns. Something is tugging at the back of his mind - an idea hovering at the edge of consciousness but slipping away every time he attempts to grab it. Annoying, that.
"All right. Then things go relatively quiet. It packs its bags and goes traveling, causing droughts while it does. Until Ireland."
"Until Ireland." Kali agrees. "Here we get another attack - a couple of hikers. They vanish completely, leaving their equipment behind which is practically untouched. Except that the whole area around their tent is dried up and dead."
The idea that refuses to be caught, almost drives Gabriel crazy. It's like an itch he just can't reach, and it takes him a moment to realize that he's used to this feeling. True, it's been almost a millennium he last felt this way, but he falls back into old patterns with frightening ease. Just like Kali, Gabriel has fallen prey to the excitement of the hunt. He used to be a hunter of evil before politics and squabbles amongst themselves drove him to leave the angels. He had sworn to himself not to lift a single finger for them - or their goals - again, but this, hunting this thing that is too dangerous for the human hunters, this feels right. He tells himself it's because of Kali. She inspires him and the sooner she makes her kill, the sooner she's going to get into the excited state he wants her in. It has nothing to do with getting nostalgic about his old job. Nada. Not at all.
Gabriel clears his throat. "When was that exactly? When were the hikers attacked?"
"May 6th."
And just like that, it clicks. Things fall into place. "Eureka." Gabriel mutters. "I thought they'd died out."
Kali gives him a skeptical look. "Do you care to share your information with the class?" She says in a deadpan voice and raises an eyebrow.
"Saint George's Day." Gabriel says and beams at her. He barely notices that he's squeezing her hands in excitement. This is what is feels like when he catches the trail of his prey.
Kali holds his gaze patiently. "Correct me if I'm wrong." She says in an infuriatingly calm voice. "But doesn't Saint George's Day take place in one day only? As the name implies?"
Gabriel shakes his head. "It's traditionally celebrated on April 23rd and 24th, the day Saint George, the dragon slayer, died."
Kali's gaze remains locked on him. "And?"
"And Eastern Orthodox calendarists use the Julian calendar to celebrate the day of Saint George - and that calendar puts it on May 6th." Gabriel's smile is so wide that it threatens to split his face. "And who comes out on Saint George's Day?"
"Well, who does?" Kali asks impatiently.
"A creature called Bolla. A dragon."
"Which comes out of hiding on the day the dragon slayer died." Kali smiles appreciatively. "You know a lot about saints." She observes suspiciously. "I hadn't expected you to be the religious type."
Gabriel tenses, then forces himself to relax - but he knows Kali spotted the chink in his proverbial armor. "I'm the type with wide-spread interests. Interests that have just gotten us the creature's identity."
Kali holds his gaze for a moment and a silent conversation seems to pass between them. She knows that there's more to Gabriel than meets the eye but as they're forced to deal with different problems at the present time, it passes as an unspoken agreement to deal with this topic later.
"Fine." Kali says. "Debrief me, Trickster."
She's not going to forget this, Gabriel realizes. Smart woman. And dangerous - a combination that apparently goes straight to his downstairs brain. Business, he tells himself firmly. Get the Bolla, then get the girl.
"The Bolla is a snake-like creature originating in Albania." He says, recalling details about the dragon he thought he'd buried long ago. Apparently his mind still functions as an encyclopedia of things that go bump in the night.
"As you noticed, it eats humans and causes severe droughts. Fortunately, it only opens its eyes on Saint George's Day, so things should calm down."
"Until next year." Kali interrupts and Gabriel nods.
"Exactly. This is why we should go an kill it now, during its hibernation. It's well-fed now which makes it lazy and slow." He smiles. "We just find it and kill it."
If she's wary about the depth of information the so-called Trickster can provide her with, Kali doesn't show it. She has a job to and once that is done, she will have more than enough time to find out what makes this man tick. She smiles in anticipation - both for the kill and for the man in front of her - and slides out of her shoes. "How do we find it?" Kali asks as quietly as ever and touches his ankle with her toes.
Gabriel, who has just taken a sip form his drink, coughs. "We follow the trail of exsiccation - dried up riverbeds and plants should lead us right there and once...once..." Her foot slides up his calf and almost all blood leaves his face to relocate further down. "Once...er..."
"Yes?" Kali asks sweetly as his leg moves forward to give her better access.
"Once..."
She moves her toes against the hollow of his knee and Gabriel's breath hitches. She smiles knowingly, enjoying this very different kind of hunt just as much as she does demon-hunting.
"Once we're close enough, the stink will lead us to it." He says, the words coming out in a rush as if he's concerned he won't be able to talk coherently later on. "And then we burn it."
"I can do burning." Kali purrs, her fingertips tracing unseen patterns on Gabriel's palm. She is very pleased with the way the evening is proceeding.
~*~
The morning sun has barely risen when they find the Bolla's lair. Truthfully, once they know what to look for, it's really not that difficult anymore, as a trail of dried out vegetation points them into the right direction. By the time they arrive at the mouth of the cave, the stink is overwhelming. Rotten eggs, decay, vomit, the strong, acidic smell of ripped out entrails. Gabriel gags at the mere thought but is determined not to let that put him off. Though, the smell might be the creature's greatest weapon as it's hard to concentrate on slaying the dragon when you're busy keeping your breakfast down. He feels bile in his throat and makes a disgusted face.
"Let's get this over with, fair lady." Gabriel says and forces an unconvincing smile on his face.
"Preferably quickly." Kali agrees, looking just as nauseated.
Gabriel nods, a hand still clamped protectively over his mouth and nose in an ineffective effort to minimize the stench. "We go in. You burn it and we're out again."
"Yes." Kali agrees.
They share an uneasy look but neither one of them makes a move.
"Shouldn't we?" Gabriel asks and points to the entrance of the cave which looks innocent and deceptively peaceful in the soft morning light.
Kali raises an eyebrow. "Lead the way." She says tonelessly and Gabriel thinks she looks a little sick. The reak is an effective weapon, indeed.
"The things I do for love." Gabriel grumbles and moves forward, just slowly enough to catch the small smile on Kali's face before the darkness of the cave engulfs him. It feels as if someone switched off the lights and it takes his eyes - the eyes of his all-too human vessel - a moment to adjust to the almost complete darkness that surrounds him. The scent is stronger in here, too, and he gives himself a short time to adjust to that as well. By the time Kali joins him, Gabriel can make out the outlines of the rocky walls, the pebbles and gravel on the ground. Uneven footing. Better not risk a fight in here. They will have to be quick or things are bound to get ugly. He turns to Kali, wearing a wide smile that is only slightly marred by his watering eyes which still suffer from the foul air.
"Got a string, Ariadne?" He asks and Kali rolls her eyes in exasperation.
"I will not lose my way in here." She says confidently and Gabriel dimly recalls that destruction isn't just what Kali is about. It is said that one of her aspects is Tara, the earth. It's unlikely she's going to get lost in her own domain. Gabriel, on the other hand, feels uncomfortable in the cave. It's dark and restricting and if he, as an archangel, weren't above such petty feelings, he'd be sure to become claustrophobic.
He nods once, tensely, and pulls himself together, leading the way down the dark, narrow path, their only light being some sort of phosphorizing fungus, that casts a dim, sickly green light.
Neither of them talks as they make their way into the darkness, their eyes having fully adjusted by now. There are few intersections and usually it's both their nose and their common sense that tells them which way to go. Evidently a dragon-like creature won't be able to squeeze through the smaller passages and Gabriel is relieved that he's being spared the indignity of crawling through the mud. Or possibly getting stuck which would deal a severe blow to his ego.
Quite frankly, despite the charming company, it doesn't take long for Gabriel to get bored. If anything, he has never been known for his patience and the monotonous scenery - rock, rock and more rock - doesn't do anything to distract him. He attempts to focus on the smell of Kali's hair instead of the reek of the cave, but to no avail. Try as he might, he still feels a little dizzy and a little put off that Kali seems to take it all in stride. She looks as alert as ever, completely unruffled. And that's when they see their first clue.
It's nothing but a shadow within the shadows but it's the first physical proof that their prey has not yet left the building. Gabriel steps forward and reaches out to touch the jagged surface of the rock where the Bolla's scales must have scraped against the stone. It feels sharp underneath his fingertips. Dangerous. Long-forgotten instincts awake as Gabriel takes another look at the passage they're standing in. It's barely wide enough to allow them to walk side by side and even inhabiting his relatively small vessel, Gabriel has been forced to duck more often than not to keep his head from hitting the low ceiling.
The Bolla had to work hard to get through this passage, leaving marks all over the walls. It's really easy to spot once you know what to look for. It gives him a rough estimation of the creature's height and -
"What is this?" Kali says in a disgusted voice, tearing Gabriel out of his thoughts.
"What?" He asks eloquently but then already spots it as well as he joins her.
"This." Kali pokes the thin, longish object with her foot. It rolls over to join more of its companions, scattered randomly across the ground. It's in a puddle of what Gabriel first took as mud but now, at second glance, he's not too sure anymore. He's getting a really bad feeling about this. Something doesn't add up here.
He crouches down and reaches out to pick up one of the objects when he his hand halts in mid-movement. The stuff they'd been walking through wasn't mud. It was too sticky and...slimy. He realizes that he has seen this stuff before.
"Poison." Gabriel breathes and alarm bells go off in the back of his mind. Bollas aren't poisonous.
"Lovely." Kali says in a deadpan voice, then casts a regretful look at her shoes. "Let's go find the creature and kill it. I have better things to do than stay here and gawk at its poisonous excrement."
Gabriel shrugs. "You got a point there. I could think of a couple of better things we could do, too." He winks at her, unworried about Kali's exasperated sigh. Then, taking more care where they place their feet than before, they go on.
~*~
The path twists and turns, many passages leading off to God knows where but both the slime and their prey's poisonous stingers make it easy to stay on the right track. It is quiet. Unnaturally so. They pass the skeletons of small animals, bats and rats and the like, but there is no sound except for the occasional drip of water which takes them both at surprise, considering the Bolla's tendency to dry up everything it gets too close to. It's only when they catch the faint sound of a hiss that things make sense again.
"A small subterranean river." Kali says, her eyes reflecting the greenish light cast by the fungus ominously.
"Turned into acid." Gabriel agrees, not in the mood for jokes for once. His spider-sense, as he likes to call it, is tingling like crazy and still he can't pin-point the exact reason. The ground slowly becomes more sandy and they see the first stalactites and stalagmites, forming bizarre constructions. He wonders how long it'll take them to finally find the creature and dispose of it, when the passage suddenly ends.
He can't help himself but stop and stare in awe. The chamber is vast, with a high-vaulted ceiling being held up by stalactites and stalagmites which have fused over the centuries, now serving as elegant pillars. The underground river finally comes out of hiding and crosses the chamber, emitting a faint bubbling and hissing sound as the acid slowly burns its way through the rock, merely adding to the foul stench. And that's when they find it - it's the light caught on the remains of a hiking boot (they've found their missing persons, Gabriel presumes) that first draws their eyes to it. The Bolla is partly hidden behind a wall of stalagmites and at first, in the dim light, it's hard to make it out against the dark background. It's eerily quiet. The dragon is sleeping, its scaly skin melting in and out of the darkness with the rhythm of its breaths. Gabriel blinks, all senses screaming at him that something is completely, massively wrong here, but the moment he opens his mouth to pull her back, Kali strikes.
Fed up with the inactivity, the Goddess steps forward in a fluent motion, her arms rigidly at her side. She casts her head back and Gabriel catches his breath as she bares her neck. He is rooted to the spot in fascination as flames grow out of her fingers and travel up her arms. Her lips part and Gabriel swallows. She is glorious. Dangerous and...and...Gabriel hesitates as some long repressed memory resurfaces as his gaze follows the movement of her arms. All of a sudden Kali reaches out, points at the Bolla and shoots. The brightness of the fire burns his eyes as they hit the dragon. The ground shakes as the creature wakes, screaming out its indignation with an unearthly cry. Gabriel still stares, transfixed. And then his jaw drops open and he starts cussing.
"Stop it!" He yells but the rush of the fire is too loud. "For God's sake, Kali. Stop!"
He pushes himself forward, heedless of getting burned himself and lunges for Kali.
"Stop it, it's not..."
But it's too late. The dragon is awake and moving, the flames bouncing off its hide without leaving as much as a scorch mark. Kali's eyes widen.
"What is...it's not working." The flames on her arms die out and she gives Gabriel a look of confusion. "It's not..."
"I know." Gabriel interrupts her frantically, suddenly all too aware of the source of his bad feeling. "It's not a Bolla anymore. It has...evolved."
The ground is shaking and small stalactites fall from the ceiling.
"Evolved?" Kali shrieks, looking torn between whether to slay the dragon or Gabriel. He holds up his hands placatingly but there's simply no time for long explanations. The thing that used to be a Bolla screams again and it feels as if his eardrums are bursting with the sound. The smell, bad enough before, is overwhelming now that it moves. It spreads its wings and a guess becomes certainty. Gabriel's mouth goes dry.
"We're screwed."
~*~
A gust of wind is all the warning they get. Trusting his instincts, Gabriel throws himself forward, his arms around Kali's waist. The roar of the creature's wings flapping ineffectively in the too-small chamber drown out her scream of surprise. They fall to the side and a fraction of a second later, the Bolla's tail strikes the spot Kali occupied a moment before. There's no time for explanations nor for cussing as the tail strikes again and again, sending pebbles into the air that hit them like miniature missiles as they fall down again.
"What the hell?" Kali gasps with the first bit of air she can get. Gabriel pushes them behind a massive stalagmite, out of the creature's sight. They can hear it moving in the chamber, looking for the intruders.
"I asked you a question." She snarls - albeit very quietly as to not draw any attention. Gabriel notes that she looks winded. Using the fire must have exhausted her. He's worried.
"After a twelve year cycle the Bolla transforms." Gabriel whispers, attempting to put as much information into as few words as possible. He wipes dirt off his face and peers over the edge of their stalagmite. The dragon roars again and there's a splash when its tail hits the underground lake, sending droplets of acid through the air. Lovely, Gabriel thinks sarcastically. Kali tugs on his arm.
"Transforms into what, Professor?" She asks, looking regal and competent despite being covered in mud and...other things Gabriel doesn't care to identify. Not that he looks much better. He's pretty sure he has bat-bones tangled in his hair.
"Into a Kulshedra." He says and Kali raises an eyebrow.
"Now that is helpful." She says, giving him a stern look that makes Gabriel groan.
"You know what the odds were that we arrive just when it hits its circle of transformation? Slim. Pretty damn slim to none."
"And yet here we are."
"Here we-" He doesn't get a chance to finish the sentence. The stalagmite they're hiding behind suddenly grows hot. They flinch away and stumble back, scrambling for cover. The stone grows brighter, shining red hot, then suddenly explodes into millions of little pieces, piercing the air like darts of fire. Gabriel lets out a hiss of pain as several hit his back as he pushes Kali behind the next stone. And not a second too soon. He has barely pulled his behind into the relative safety of their hiding place, when the Kulshedra bristles, looking like an overgrown and extremely pissed-off porcupine. With another cry, it spreads its wings, crashing into the walls and the ceiling. It barely pays attention when the ground moves again and more stalactites fall and shatter on the ground. It peers myopically at them and then it's like arrows being fired at them. It had shot its poisonous stingers at them, Gabriel realizes and curses.
"It breathes fire." Kali says angrily. "And it shoots quills at us. Anything else I should know?"
Gabriel shrugs. "Now would be a bad time to tell you it's damn near invulnerable, wouldn't it?"
Kali casts him a dark look. "Once we're out of here, I'm going to kill you." She says and Gabriel nods in understanding.
"How about we kill it first?" He offers, careful to remain hidden. It's not as if the poison or the fire stand a chance of actually hurting him badly - but's it's a whole different story when it comes to his vessel. The equation is easy: even though he can make his vessel stronger and more robust than the average human being, there's only so much abuse it can take before it dies on him. The same goes for Kali, he suspects.
"How do we kill it?" Kali asks, all business again.
"You could do your blood spell thing." Gabriel suggests and risks a peek at the dragon.
Wrong move. Its head whips around, yellow eyes narrow and almost blindly it shoots off more quills that land far too close for comfort. The dragon flaps its wings again, sending a rush of hot, foul-smelling air their way.
"Blood needs to be spilled." Kali says and Gabriel gives her a puzzled look.
"Blood is being spilled, sweetheart."
"Not yours, fool." She rolls her eyes. "I can only do the blood spell if its blood is spilled."
Gabriel's look turns incredulous. "I already mentioned the part where it's invulnerable?"
"You mentioned a lot of parts. None of which were too reliable." She glares at him. "Find a way to spill a drop of blood and I'll burn this thing alive."
"I'll just walk over and ask it to donate." Gabriel snarks and casts a couple of illusions. Several Gabriels and Kalis fill the chamber but the Kulshedra ignores them. Gabriel's shoulders sag with disappointment. "Worth a try."
"You didn't get the scent right."
"At least I did something."
"Are you saying..?" Kali starts but the ground shakes again before she can continue. "Later." She says and both jump away from the stalagmite a mere second before the Kulshedra's tail hits it. It's pulverized immediately. Gabriel rolls into safety, panting slightly as he inhales the scorchingly hot air. A short look shows him Kali, who has found cover behind another rock. But the creature is already after her. A shriek fills the air and Kali's hiding place is destroyed. Another shriek and poisonous quills fly at her. Flame encircles her hands. She balls her fists and sends her own fire against the dragon's attack, effectively burning the stingers in mid-flight. The dragon is momentarily taken aback and flaps its wings in frustration. Dust flies and a stalactite hits the ground almost right next to Kali. She's exhausted, hair hanging into her face. Using her fire has depleted her energies and the Kulshedra seems to sense this. It focuses its energy on Kali and Gabriel feels his insides grow cold with worry. Kali doesn't stand a chance against this creature. The Kulshedra is even older than the pagan goddess herself, stemming from a time before human memory set in. It's immune to the things that would kill any other dragon in an instant. But it's not immune to an archangel's blade.
Gabriel bits his bottom lip. He has sworn to himself not to betray his identity as an angel. For anyone.
He looks up, watching Kali burn another set of quills, dripping with poison as they hiss through the air. She's screaming something but he can't make out the words. He can't do this. The work of centuries will all be for nothing. Hell, even with his blade it would be a very close call - he clearly remembers that much from the last time he fought a Kulshedra. And back then he had Uriel and Raphael as backup.
His gaze flickers back to Kali who is fighting for her life - angry and glorious - but ultimately doomed. Why the crazy woman refuses to give any ground is beyond him, as he watches the inevitable unfold. Kali, swaying with fatigue, stumbles back and the dragon, sensing her weakness, advances. It has turned its massive body around, a difficult endeavor despite the chamber's vastness, and now faces Kali. It's putrid breath blows her hair out of her face but she takes it stoically. Her hands come up, small flames flickering in and out and it's evident that she's exhausted. Kali sways with weakeness, but stubbornly stands her ground. The Kulshedra roars, retreats its head and - spits at her.
Gabriel doesn't realize he's moving until he's in front of Kali. Once again he tackles her to the side - just in time to evade the dragon's acid saliva that burns right through the rocky ground. They crash against some rock and Gabriel shoves Kali back, into the relative safety of rocks and stalagmites.
"Stay here." He orders, unaware about the change in his attitude. "I'm going to draw some blood for you. And then you toast this son of a bitch." Gabriel barely has enough sense to cast an illusion over his blade, not enough to fool the Kulshedra's instincts but hopefully sufficing to keep Kali off the right track.
The Kulshedra freezes and tilts its head to one side as if it senses a sudden change. Its nostrils flare, little puffs of smoke escape them. The wings halt their flapping and it feels as if time itself waits with bated breath.
Gabriel, looking as un-angelic as one could possibly look, with his disheveled hair and the scorch marks on his body where droplets of acid hit him, faces the dragon, unconsciously slipping back into the habits he worked so hard to suppress. He's not aware of the Enochian battle cry that escapes his lips, nor will he ever recall actually charging the dragon. One moment he's in front of Kali and the next he's right up close and personal with the Kulshedra.
They meet in a clash of blade against scale and Gabriel slices at the leathery surface of the wings, but without any great effect. The Kulshedra howls in anger and confusion. It's not used to its prey fighting back.
His ears hurt, judging from the wetness on the neck he wouldn't be surprised to find them bleeding, but neither opponent is willing to give an inch. The Kulshedra swings its tail and though Gabriel manages to escape the brunt of it, the very tip of the tail sends him crashing into the opposite wall.
His breath is blown out of him and for a moment all he sees are funny flickering lights dancing in front of his eyes. He takes a few shaky breaths and promptly wishes he hadn't. He can now see the Kulshedra getting ready to spit at him. It arches its head back and he forces himself to move. He rolls aside and into a standing position. Acidic saliva a hits the wall and melts impressing chunks of rocks within seconds. Stalactites fall from the ceiling, crashing down all around him and Gabriel finds himself pinned between the wall and the dragon. The creature, sure of its victory against this troublesome prey, takes its time. It stands up on its hind legs, head brushing the ceiling and Gabriel's hands tighten around the hilt of his blade. He must be crazy, he thinks, but it's the only solution that holds the hint of a chance.
He would dearly like to say something witty and dramatic but naturally nothing comes to mind. So much for memorable last lines, he thinks, then pushes himself forward. The words do eventually come out - wild and infuriated Enochian - as he slides between the Kulshedra's legs and crashes into its tail (not part of the plan). Dizzy from the hit, Gabriel blinks to clear his head, but it's already too late. The tail swishes at him just as quills come flying from every direction. He barely feels the sting of the stingers as they hit his flesh - he's too occupied being stunned by the massive tail throwing him against a wall. Miraculously, his blade is still in his hands, stained with the dragon's blood. And that's when he remembers. A Kulshedra is invulnerable - except for its tail. He has drawn blood. Too bad the poison is killing his vessel. His eyelids droop and Gabriel opens his mouth to say something but no words come out. He drops to his knees, facing the dragon full on. It growls at him, too infuriated to care much about its wounded tail. Its breath hits Gabriel and he can barely keep himself from throwing up.
"Dude. Two words." He gasps. "Oral. Hygiene."
And then he passes out.
~*~
He wakes up outside, with his head in Kali's lap. This realization brings a wide, stupid grin to his face.
"Was it good for you, too, babe?" He asks and Kali groans. Her hair is a mess, thick dark tangles adorned with mud and bones of small animals. Her face is dirty and looks as pale as he has ever seen her, but she's holding herself as regal as ever.
"I was half convinced I would have to get rid of your carcass." She says with perfect dignity and Gabriel smiles.
"I love it when you talk dirty." He whispers and reaches up to brush a stray strand of hair from Kali's face.
"You do seem to have tendency to get dirty."
"Especially in the bedroom." He says, looking completely serious.
And that does it. It's small sound at first, then grows louder as she fails to hold it in. Kali, Goddess of Destruction, is giggling like a school girl and Gabriel feels more like a hero than ever before.
"That's the least you can do." She gasps through the laughter. "I expect a perfect performance after all that trouble. I had to carry you out. And you're heavy."
Gabriel shrugs, looking completely unapologetic. "And the Kulshedra?"
"Toasted." She replies with evident satisfaction. "All I had to do, was get a little of its blood and things were over within a moment."
"I love it when women take charge."
"You better." Kali replies and places his blade into his hands. Thank God the illusion is still firmly in place. "Interesting toy for a Trickster."
"Not a Trickster, love." He replies as his hands close around the hilt of his blade, possessiveness speaking out of every movement. "The Trickster."
Kali merely raises an eyebrow and Gabriel realizes he can no longer put this particular conversation off.
"You're right. I'm a bit more than a Trickster. I meant it when I say 'The Trickster'."
She quietly raises the other eyebrow.
"May I introduce myself?" Gabriel pushes himself up into a sitting position, takes her hand and presses a kiss to her palm.
"You may have heard of me already." He pulls Kali closer, who, surprisingly, allows him to, and leans his forehead against hers. There is barely a hair's breadth between their lips.
"My name is Loki." Gabriel whispers.
He can feel her laughter as his lips touch hers for the first time.
This story was written for spacefragments who gave me a lovely prompt to play with at spnrarepairs.
Title: Playing With Fire
Pairing: Gabriel / Kali.
Rating: PG-13 / T
Word Count 8242.
Warnings: Spoilers up to episode 5.19, Hammer of the Gods. A little language, a little violence and naturally, a whole lot of UST and innuendo.
Summary: An archangel incognito and the Goddess of destruction. They came, snarked...and still got together in the end. A story about an ancient monster, a couple of misunderstandings, bad weather and a Trickster with a fool-proof plan that turns out to be a fool's plan instead.
Notes: I had the honor to work with two outstanding and superb beta readers, icelily01 and painted_pain who didn't get nearly as much appreciation from me as they deserve. You ladies are awesome and deserve embarrassing amounts of praise for your kind and competent help. I honestly don't know what I would have done without you. Thank you so very much ♥
Another big "THANK YOU" goes to spacefragments for giving me such an awesome prompt. I loved working on this.
Disclaimer: SPN and all recognizable characters are owned by their various creators. No copyright infringement intended.
Playing With Fire
Gabriel, one of Heaven's most fearsome weapons, is well on his way to getting drunk off his ass. Of course, that's easier said than done when you're an archangel incognito and whatever heavenly mojo you possess, is currently burning the alcohol almost as quickly as you can pour it into your vessel.
However, Gabriel is nothing if not persistent. His mind set firmly on his goal, he downs another drink and if he does it quickly enough, he can feel the faintest buzz and the old run-down pub he finds himself in, blurs nicely into a mixture of dark blue, green and brown hues.
"I'll have another one of these." He informs the barman and taps the tiny pink umbrella that decorates his empty glass. "And don't be stingy with the sweetener."
The barman, an old jovial-looking man with a nose vaguely resembling a battered potato, gives Gabriel a wide, gap-toothed smile. "Say, Trickster, you can really hold your liquor, can't you?"
Gabriel nods and once again questions the wisdom of frequenting 'Silenus' Tavern', watering-place for Gods, demi-gods and pretty much every supernatural creature you can imagine, if you are to believe Silenus' advertisements.
It's the place where you get your Bloody Mary with real blood and where - theoretically - you can sit down next to a Wendigo, munching away on his person-burger and Artemis, Greek Goddess of the hunt, the wilderness and fertility. Though she doesn't take it too well if you use the latter word as a pick up line as Gabriel found out (most painfully) during his first visit at the place.
He also found out that theoretically this place is supernatural Switzerland, as neutral as you can go, but the pact ends the moment you step out into the parking lot, where - keeping things confined to Gabriel's little mental example - the Wendigo would quickly find himself poked in the rear by one of Artemis' arrows and there'd be a lot of cleaning up to do for Silenus. So the creatures of dubious character keep far away from the Tavern, making a Trickster a prime subject for dirty glances being thrown by demi-gods on their third helping of ale, or other drink of choice. Part of Gabriel admits that he enjoys the danger. Not that any of them actually stand a chance against him, but that's beside the point. He's in a place where he gets great drinks, a never-ending supply of sweets and - best of all - his mere presence riles up the other customers.
Sometimes, Gabriel muses, life is good and he could have picked a worse place to spend some time at, before he decides on where to wield his special brand of justice next. He accepts the next drink with a grateful nod and raises his glass in salute to some dark-clad figure who has been spending the past hours glaring daggers into Gabriel's back. A tiny, self-satisfied grin tugs on the corners of Gabriel's lips. He is perfectly fine with the way his life is going right now.
Still wearing that infamous smirk, he brings the glass to his lips and pulls the candied cherry off the small umbrella decorating his drink.
And that is when Gabriel first sees her - he's frozen in mid-movement, the cherry between his teeth and just a tiny bit of sweet liquid trickling and onto his chin. If he were a cartoon, his eyes would be popping out of their sockets right now and his tongue would be hanging down right to the floor. As it is, Gabriel's jaw merely slackens, the candied fruit falling out of his mouth and back into the cocktail, which, in turn, draws Silenus' attention. The barman's gaze travels quickly between Gabriel and her and he pales.
"Don't do it." Silenus tells the Trickster, alarmed by the other man's predatory smile. "Don't even think about it."
Gabriel, with a massive effort of will, drags his eyes away from the long, long shapely dark legs and spares Silenus a brief glance. "I'm not doing anything." He says, fully aware of the unspoken 'yet' filling the silence loudly.
"Seriously, Trickster." Silenus insists, wiping his hands frantically on his apron in a nervous gesture. "Do you even know who she is? She's-"
"Kali." They say at the same time and as if sensing that the men are discussing her, she turns around. She spares Silenus a cursory glance, acknowledging him as an old, albeit harmless acquaintance, before her gaze settles on Gabriel. Their eyes lock and he can feel the danger she calmly radiates across the room. Any sane person would avert their eyes and run for cover, tail firmly between their legs. However, 'sane' has never been a word to describe Gabriel - even back when he ran with the heavenly brigade and surely not now. He raises his glass to her, waggling his eyebrows suggestively and for the fraction of a second Gabriel is convinced he sees surprise on her face, before it settles back into the smooth, neutral expression she had been wearing before. Only mixed with a thinly disguised spark of disdain that says plainly 'You're out of my league, little man.' Naturally, this only spurns Gabriel on.
"Give me her favorite drink. Now." He orders and doesn't even bother to unglue his eyes from her legs this time and Silenus, sensing that there is no way he can keep his alcohol-proof customer from doing something extremely stupid, complies silently.
"It's your funeral." Silenus sighs and watches Gabriel approach the Goddess of Destruction.
~ * ~
In contrast to what people may believe, being a goddess includes a bit more than just holding rites, blessing crops or making it rain. Kali, in particular, feels the weight of responsibility on her shoulders tonight. It's not just about the taking, but about the giving as well. About the protecting.
That is what has brought her to the Tavern. She freely admits that for the most part mankind is doing a pretty decent job disposing of the average demon or creature of the underworld. Vampires, ghouls, ghosts - that peculiar brand of humans that call themselves "Hunters" seem to have a grip on the situation, believing arrogantly that there's nothing they and their man-made weapons cannot handle. Naturally Kali knows better, especially considering that she is among the first line of defense against the things hunters can't even imagine in their worst nightmares.
In particular, the specimen she is currently hunting (and she will firmly deny that she enjoys the thrill of the hunt in the first place!). A trail of local aridity, with what little water is left turning into acid, focused on little more than a radius of a mile or so has led her halfway through Asia until it made a jump to reappear somewhere in Ireland. It's not the aridity itself that draws Kali's attention, but rather some gut feeling that insists it's the symptom of something really nasty. And yet she didn't step in before a couple of Asian hunters, following the same trail she did, faced the creature - with fatal consequences. They vanished without a trace, leaving behind only their camping equipment which looked completely untouched, but no sign of life.
It's like something just snatched them out of reality and that is something Kali isn't willing to allow. Those hunters had been some of her followers, which makes things offensive enough that she feels compelled to step in personally.
She is just about to approach the shivering leprechaun, the only living witness of the monster's latest attack, waiting for her at the corner table just as she has requested, when she senses someone approaching her.
"No." She says calmly, without turning around.
"I haven't said anything." Gabriel replies, drinking in the delicate curve of her neck. He steps a little closer, making sure his breath grazes her skin.
"And yet I do not require anything you may offer." Kali answers firmly, still keeping her back to him, but her hands ball into fists. The nerve of him!
"No." Gabriel shrugs and smiles in delight as he spots tiny goosebumps on the back of her neck. "But you may enjoy it."
Kali smiles before she can stop it, then quickly rearranges her face into a neutral expression before turning around. She is stubborn - always has been - and refuses to give any ground, so the moment he no longer faces her back, they're standing nose to nose, only a thin layer of air and two cocktails between them. "I doubt you have any idea what I enjoy."
"Try me." Gabriel replies as his heart skips a beat. He hasn't had so much fun since meeting his brothers' destined vessels, the troublesome Winchester boys. The only exception being that he never had the urge to grab any of the boys and get a room, privacy and some sweets. "Try me." He repeats, not backing down either.
Kali makes a face as if she's about to sneeze and huffs - a sound somewhere between indignation and amusement. "You wouldn't like it if I did."
"Why don't you let me handle that problem?"
"Do you have a death wish?" Kali asks, attempting to find out whether the stranger is incredibly brave or incredibly stupid. As it is, she senses something about him that she can't place. Some sort of lower pagan god perhaps?
"I like to live dangerously," Gabriel assures her and feels a surge of triumph when he notices a very small smile on her face.
"I can help you with that." Kali hears herself say, before she turns around and leaves in the direction of the unlucky leprechaun. She makes sure to sway her hips just a tiny bit more than usual. "Bring the drinks," she orders.
Kali never realizes that by the time Gabriel joins her at the table and she's interrogating the leprechaun, she's still smiling.
~*~
It has been three days now since they first met at Silenus' Tavern and still Gabriel isn't any closer to his goal. Any of them, really, as Kali stubbornly insists ignoring his amorous advances and the thing they're hunting refuses to be found.
On the other hand, they have seen quite a lot of Ireland's countryside and Gabriel has suffered though enough rain to last him a life-time. At least they've found themselves a nice place to stay at. Old-fashioned rugs covering the stone floors, portraits of important-looking men in wigs and - best of all - waterbeds and mirrors on the ceiling. Of course Kali insists they get separate rooms but once again, just as it was the case when she brushed off his advances on their first meeting, Gabriel decides to take this as a challenge. After all, this is all he's after, he keeps telling himself. He wants a little fun and since Kali is more than capable of taking care of herself, Gabriel figures it's fine to tag along for the time being. Truth be told, he has done his share of research and knows exactly what will happen when Kali takes down the monster. He knows that, despite the serene attitude she likes to project, she is thrilled by the hunt and once she has had her kill..well, that's exactly when Gabriel plans to make his move and offer to help her blow off some steam. Certainly worth the wait. He doesn't realize he's licking his lips in anticipation until Kali clears her throat and abruptly yanks him back into the present - which happens to take place at their table in a five-star restaurant.
"If you start drooling, I'm going to leave." She informs him, her voice silky smooth and oh-so full of disdain. He really shouldn't find this attractive, Gabriel muses, but he does. Donning a wide smile, he shrugs nonchalantly.
"What if I told you that I'm captivated by your beauty? Losing control of my body functions and all that."
Kali raises a perfect eyebrow. "Then I would still insist that oral incontinence is not attractive in my eyes."
"How about verbal incontinence? Because I think I've got that one fatally."
Her lips twitch in amusement and Gabriel feels the sweet rush of triumph.
"I noticed." Kali says quietly, the smile now evident on her face and Gabriel immediately seizes the opportunity. He reaches out to take her hand - and that's when the waiter arrives. Gabriel bites back some comments that would shatter his fellow angels' halos with indignation. They quickly place their orders (Kali would like her steak bloody. Very bloody, if you don't mind.) and the moment the waiter has left, Gabriel is right back on track. But the moment has passed and Kali is back being her business-like self. Gabriel sighs and takes a sip of his drink instead.
"Back to the job at hand." Kali says and leans forward. "We have followed the droughts to this place. The last incident was two days ago, the water of a fountain turning into acid, but since then? Nothing." She frowns just a little bit. "This doesn't fit into the creature's behavioral patterns and...am I boring you?" Her voice takes on a steely note.
"You could never bore me." Gabriel replies reflexively and gives her a charming smile that remains completely without effect. "I just fail to see why it's a bad thing that the creature stopped. Perhaps it noticed it's being hunted and opted for retirement?"
Kali gives him an incredulous look. "Retirement." She says in a disbelieving tone.
"Yeah. Perhaps we should go look for it in Florida instead."
Kali sighs and wearily massages her temples. She looks uncharacteristically worn out. Not that anyone would notice, unless they had been paying very close attention to her, and Gabriel, little perfectionist that he is, has done nothing else during the past days they spent together.
Nevertheless it hits him as surprise - she really does care. She really does make an effort to keep people safe and that realization does something to a part inside of Gabriel that the archangel thought he'd buried centuries ago. He's not entirely sure how he feels about that. Instead of allowing that unfamiliar and unwelcome feeling of responsibility to resurface, he reaches out for Kali's hand - interruptions by waiters, earthquakes or boybands be damned, and gently strokes the back of her hand with his thumb. He's mildly surprised she doesn't protest, but for once isn't interested in taking advantage of the fact.
"Let's review what we have again, okay?" He says and keeps rubbing lazy circles on Kali's hand. "The first incident happened in central Asia in late March. The hunters got suspicious around early April and started picking up its trail. So far we've only got droughts and the occasional incident of water turning into acid...which piqued your interest but you chose to observe how the hunters would fare before you decide whether or not to step in."
He doesn't realize Kali is looking at him differently until she moves her hand, turning the palm up and intertwines her fingers with his. He momentarily loses steam and blinks in confusion. A satisfied smile flashes over Kali's face and is gone as quickly as it appeared. It is now her hand that is caressing his and Gabriel finds this to have a decidedly destabilizing effect on his capability of coherent thought. Her fingernail gently scratches across his palm and Gabriel's mouth goes dry. The corners of Kali's lips turn up into a smile.
"I observed the hunters." She confirms and the combination of her voice, darker and deeper than he has come to expect from a woman, and her hands in his, almost turn Gabriel's brain into jelly. Turns out that his brain isn't the only part of his anatomy Kali affects and though part of him desperately wants to go with that feeling, the small voice of reason he has managed to quiet for so long, insists that it's important to listen. That what their mission - when has it become "theirs" anyway, Gabriel wonders - is important. He makes a tremendous effort to keep focused on what Kali says and not what she does. He feels like a martyr.
"You watched them." Gabriel says and his voice is just a tiny bit shakier than usual.
"I did." Kali confirms. "Or rather I checked in on them regularly until..." She hesitates, momentarily lost in a memory of carnage and destruction. "There was an attack on a village but I didn't get there until it was too late. The village was empty. Not a living soul, not a human one, anyway. The animals were left, many of which were mutilated and dying." Her voice shakes and unconsciously her fingers hold on to Gabriel's more tightly. She pauses for a brief moment before she continues.
"There was no trace left of any human being - nor any water. Even the earth itself was desiccated and dry, the plants withered and dying in puddles of acid." She looks down on their hands unseeingly and when she raises her head again, her gaze is filled with a hatred and determination that make Gabriel recall with a start why this woman is called the Goddess of Destruction.
"I knew right then, that I had to handle things personally." She says, looking fierce. "Night fell and I went to see the hunters - and again I came too late. Their camp had been destroyed and they vanished without a trace. I went looking for the creature but couldn't find anything but its path of draught and exsiccation. I hunted it across Asia but it's clever. It hid and I lost its trail...until a leprechaun claimed to have spotted it in Ireland."
Gabriel nods. "The leprechaun we talked to at the Tavern."
"The very one." Kali agrees and lets out a huff of frustration. "Not that he was too helpful."
He squeezes her hand and smiles reassuringly. "But you got a new trace and - best of all - you got me."
That earns him a chuckle as she squeezes back. "A Trickster." She says, not unkindly.
"The Trickster." He corrects. "Master of the trade."
"Too bad we don't plan to prank the creature."
"I do killing, too, if necessary." Gabriel says and there's something in his voice that catches her attention. Kali studies him for a moment with a curious expression, then nods slowly.
"I believe you." She says softly. "But first we need to find it."
"Which brings us back to what little we know. So our hunters died in late April."
"April 24th." Kali specifies. "The village was attacked on April 23rd and the hunters died the next night."
Gabriel frowns. Something is tugging at the back of his mind - an idea hovering at the edge of consciousness but slipping away every time he attempts to grab it. Annoying, that.
"All right. Then things go relatively quiet. It packs its bags and goes traveling, causing droughts while it does. Until Ireland."
"Until Ireland." Kali agrees. "Here we get another attack - a couple of hikers. They vanish completely, leaving their equipment behind which is practically untouched. Except that the whole area around their tent is dried up and dead."
The idea that refuses to be caught, almost drives Gabriel crazy. It's like an itch he just can't reach, and it takes him a moment to realize that he's used to this feeling. True, it's been almost a millennium he last felt this way, but he falls back into old patterns with frightening ease. Just like Kali, Gabriel has fallen prey to the excitement of the hunt. He used to be a hunter of evil before politics and squabbles amongst themselves drove him to leave the angels. He had sworn to himself not to lift a single finger for them - or their goals - again, but this, hunting this thing that is too dangerous for the human hunters, this feels right. He tells himself it's because of Kali. She inspires him and the sooner she makes her kill, the sooner she's going to get into the excited state he wants her in. It has nothing to do with getting nostalgic about his old job. Nada. Not at all.
Gabriel clears his throat. "When was that exactly? When were the hikers attacked?"
"May 6th."
And just like that, it clicks. Things fall into place. "Eureka." Gabriel mutters. "I thought they'd died out."
Kali gives him a skeptical look. "Do you care to share your information with the class?" She says in a deadpan voice and raises an eyebrow.
"Saint George's Day." Gabriel says and beams at her. He barely notices that he's squeezing her hands in excitement. This is what is feels like when he catches the trail of his prey.
Kali holds his gaze patiently. "Correct me if I'm wrong." She says in an infuriatingly calm voice. "But doesn't Saint George's Day take place in one day only? As the name implies?"
Gabriel shakes his head. "It's traditionally celebrated on April 23rd and 24th, the day Saint George, the dragon slayer, died."
Kali's gaze remains locked on him. "And?"
"And Eastern Orthodox calendarists use the Julian calendar to celebrate the day of Saint George - and that calendar puts it on May 6th." Gabriel's smile is so wide that it threatens to split his face. "And who comes out on Saint George's Day?"
"Well, who does?" Kali asks impatiently.
"A creature called Bolla. A dragon."
"Which comes out of hiding on the day the dragon slayer died." Kali smiles appreciatively. "You know a lot about saints." She observes suspiciously. "I hadn't expected you to be the religious type."
Gabriel tenses, then forces himself to relax - but he knows Kali spotted the chink in his proverbial armor. "I'm the type with wide-spread interests. Interests that have just gotten us the creature's identity."
Kali holds his gaze for a moment and a silent conversation seems to pass between them. She knows that there's more to Gabriel than meets the eye but as they're forced to deal with different problems at the present time, it passes as an unspoken agreement to deal with this topic later.
"Fine." Kali says. "Debrief me, Trickster."
She's not going to forget this, Gabriel realizes. Smart woman. And dangerous - a combination that apparently goes straight to his downstairs brain. Business, he tells himself firmly. Get the Bolla, then get the girl.
"The Bolla is a snake-like creature originating in Albania." He says, recalling details about the dragon he thought he'd buried long ago. Apparently his mind still functions as an encyclopedia of things that go bump in the night.
"As you noticed, it eats humans and causes severe droughts. Fortunately, it only opens its eyes on Saint George's Day, so things should calm down."
"Until next year." Kali interrupts and Gabriel nods.
"Exactly. This is why we should go an kill it now, during its hibernation. It's well-fed now which makes it lazy and slow." He smiles. "We just find it and kill it."
If she's wary about the depth of information the so-called Trickster can provide her with, Kali doesn't show it. She has a job to and once that is done, she will have more than enough time to find out what makes this man tick. She smiles in anticipation - both for the kill and for the man in front of her - and slides out of her shoes. "How do we find it?" Kali asks as quietly as ever and touches his ankle with her toes.
Gabriel, who has just taken a sip form his drink, coughs. "We follow the trail of exsiccation - dried up riverbeds and plants should lead us right there and once...once..." Her foot slides up his calf and almost all blood leaves his face to relocate further down. "Once...er..."
"Yes?" Kali asks sweetly as his leg moves forward to give her better access.
"Once..."
She moves her toes against the hollow of his knee and Gabriel's breath hitches. She smiles knowingly, enjoying this very different kind of hunt just as much as she does demon-hunting.
"Once we're close enough, the stink will lead us to it." He says, the words coming out in a rush as if he's concerned he won't be able to talk coherently later on. "And then we burn it."
"I can do burning." Kali purrs, her fingertips tracing unseen patterns on Gabriel's palm. She is very pleased with the way the evening is proceeding.
~*~
The morning sun has barely risen when they find the Bolla's lair. Truthfully, once they know what to look for, it's really not that difficult anymore, as a trail of dried out vegetation points them into the right direction. By the time they arrive at the mouth of the cave, the stink is overwhelming. Rotten eggs, decay, vomit, the strong, acidic smell of ripped out entrails. Gabriel gags at the mere thought but is determined not to let that put him off. Though, the smell might be the creature's greatest weapon as it's hard to concentrate on slaying the dragon when you're busy keeping your breakfast down. He feels bile in his throat and makes a disgusted face.
"Let's get this over with, fair lady." Gabriel says and forces an unconvincing smile on his face.
"Preferably quickly." Kali agrees, looking just as nauseated.
Gabriel nods, a hand still clamped protectively over his mouth and nose in an ineffective effort to minimize the stench. "We go in. You burn it and we're out again."
"Yes." Kali agrees.
They share an uneasy look but neither one of them makes a move.
"Shouldn't we?" Gabriel asks and points to the entrance of the cave which looks innocent and deceptively peaceful in the soft morning light.
Kali raises an eyebrow. "Lead the way." She says tonelessly and Gabriel thinks she looks a little sick. The reak is an effective weapon, indeed.
"The things I do for love." Gabriel grumbles and moves forward, just slowly enough to catch the small smile on Kali's face before the darkness of the cave engulfs him. It feels as if someone switched off the lights and it takes his eyes - the eyes of his all-too human vessel - a moment to adjust to the almost complete darkness that surrounds him. The scent is stronger in here, too, and he gives himself a short time to adjust to that as well. By the time Kali joins him, Gabriel can make out the outlines of the rocky walls, the pebbles and gravel on the ground. Uneven footing. Better not risk a fight in here. They will have to be quick or things are bound to get ugly. He turns to Kali, wearing a wide smile that is only slightly marred by his watering eyes which still suffer from the foul air.
"Got a string, Ariadne?" He asks and Kali rolls her eyes in exasperation.
"I will not lose my way in here." She says confidently and Gabriel dimly recalls that destruction isn't just what Kali is about. It is said that one of her aspects is Tara, the earth. It's unlikely she's going to get lost in her own domain. Gabriel, on the other hand, feels uncomfortable in the cave. It's dark and restricting and if he, as an archangel, weren't above such petty feelings, he'd be sure to become claustrophobic.
He nods once, tensely, and pulls himself together, leading the way down the dark, narrow path, their only light being some sort of phosphorizing fungus, that casts a dim, sickly green light.
Neither of them talks as they make their way into the darkness, their eyes having fully adjusted by now. There are few intersections and usually it's both their nose and their common sense that tells them which way to go. Evidently a dragon-like creature won't be able to squeeze through the smaller passages and Gabriel is relieved that he's being spared the indignity of crawling through the mud. Or possibly getting stuck which would deal a severe blow to his ego.
Quite frankly, despite the charming company, it doesn't take long for Gabriel to get bored. If anything, he has never been known for his patience and the monotonous scenery - rock, rock and more rock - doesn't do anything to distract him. He attempts to focus on the smell of Kali's hair instead of the reek of the cave, but to no avail. Try as he might, he still feels a little dizzy and a little put off that Kali seems to take it all in stride. She looks as alert as ever, completely unruffled. And that's when they see their first clue.
It's nothing but a shadow within the shadows but it's the first physical proof that their prey has not yet left the building. Gabriel steps forward and reaches out to touch the jagged surface of the rock where the Bolla's scales must have scraped against the stone. It feels sharp underneath his fingertips. Dangerous. Long-forgotten instincts awake as Gabriel takes another look at the passage they're standing in. It's barely wide enough to allow them to walk side by side and even inhabiting his relatively small vessel, Gabriel has been forced to duck more often than not to keep his head from hitting the low ceiling.
The Bolla had to work hard to get through this passage, leaving marks all over the walls. It's really easy to spot once you know what to look for. It gives him a rough estimation of the creature's height and -
"What is this?" Kali says in a disgusted voice, tearing Gabriel out of his thoughts.
"What?" He asks eloquently but then already spots it as well as he joins her.
"This." Kali pokes the thin, longish object with her foot. It rolls over to join more of its companions, scattered randomly across the ground. It's in a puddle of what Gabriel first took as mud but now, at second glance, he's not too sure anymore. He's getting a really bad feeling about this. Something doesn't add up here.
He crouches down and reaches out to pick up one of the objects when he his hand halts in mid-movement. The stuff they'd been walking through wasn't mud. It was too sticky and...slimy. He realizes that he has seen this stuff before.
"Poison." Gabriel breathes and alarm bells go off in the back of his mind. Bollas aren't poisonous.
"Lovely." Kali says in a deadpan voice, then casts a regretful look at her shoes. "Let's go find the creature and kill it. I have better things to do than stay here and gawk at its poisonous excrement."
Gabriel shrugs. "You got a point there. I could think of a couple of better things we could do, too." He winks at her, unworried about Kali's exasperated sigh. Then, taking more care where they place their feet than before, they go on.
~*~
The path twists and turns, many passages leading off to God knows where but both the slime and their prey's poisonous stingers make it easy to stay on the right track. It is quiet. Unnaturally so. They pass the skeletons of small animals, bats and rats and the like, but there is no sound except for the occasional drip of water which takes them both at surprise, considering the Bolla's tendency to dry up everything it gets too close to. It's only when they catch the faint sound of a hiss that things make sense again.
"A small subterranean river." Kali says, her eyes reflecting the greenish light cast by the fungus ominously.
"Turned into acid." Gabriel agrees, not in the mood for jokes for once. His spider-sense, as he likes to call it, is tingling like crazy and still he can't pin-point the exact reason. The ground slowly becomes more sandy and they see the first stalactites and stalagmites, forming bizarre constructions. He wonders how long it'll take them to finally find the creature and dispose of it, when the passage suddenly ends.
He can't help himself but stop and stare in awe. The chamber is vast, with a high-vaulted ceiling being held up by stalactites and stalagmites which have fused over the centuries, now serving as elegant pillars. The underground river finally comes out of hiding and crosses the chamber, emitting a faint bubbling and hissing sound as the acid slowly burns its way through the rock, merely adding to the foul stench. And that's when they find it - it's the light caught on the remains of a hiking boot (they've found their missing persons, Gabriel presumes) that first draws their eyes to it. The Bolla is partly hidden behind a wall of stalagmites and at first, in the dim light, it's hard to make it out against the dark background. It's eerily quiet. The dragon is sleeping, its scaly skin melting in and out of the darkness with the rhythm of its breaths. Gabriel blinks, all senses screaming at him that something is completely, massively wrong here, but the moment he opens his mouth to pull her back, Kali strikes.
Fed up with the inactivity, the Goddess steps forward in a fluent motion, her arms rigidly at her side. She casts her head back and Gabriel catches his breath as she bares her neck. He is rooted to the spot in fascination as flames grow out of her fingers and travel up her arms. Her lips part and Gabriel swallows. She is glorious. Dangerous and...and...Gabriel hesitates as some long repressed memory resurfaces as his gaze follows the movement of her arms. All of a sudden Kali reaches out, points at the Bolla and shoots. The brightness of the fire burns his eyes as they hit the dragon. The ground shakes as the creature wakes, screaming out its indignation with an unearthly cry. Gabriel still stares, transfixed. And then his jaw drops open and he starts cussing.
"Stop it!" He yells but the rush of the fire is too loud. "For God's sake, Kali. Stop!"
He pushes himself forward, heedless of getting burned himself and lunges for Kali.
"Stop it, it's not..."
But it's too late. The dragon is awake and moving, the flames bouncing off its hide without leaving as much as a scorch mark. Kali's eyes widen.
"What is...it's not working." The flames on her arms die out and she gives Gabriel a look of confusion. "It's not..."
"I know." Gabriel interrupts her frantically, suddenly all too aware of the source of his bad feeling. "It's not a Bolla anymore. It has...evolved."
The ground is shaking and small stalactites fall from the ceiling.
"Evolved?" Kali shrieks, looking torn between whether to slay the dragon or Gabriel. He holds up his hands placatingly but there's simply no time for long explanations. The thing that used to be a Bolla screams again and it feels as if his eardrums are bursting with the sound. The smell, bad enough before, is overwhelming now that it moves. It spreads its wings and a guess becomes certainty. Gabriel's mouth goes dry.
"We're screwed."
~*~
A gust of wind is all the warning they get. Trusting his instincts, Gabriel throws himself forward, his arms around Kali's waist. The roar of the creature's wings flapping ineffectively in the too-small chamber drown out her scream of surprise. They fall to the side and a fraction of a second later, the Bolla's tail strikes the spot Kali occupied a moment before. There's no time for explanations nor for cussing as the tail strikes again and again, sending pebbles into the air that hit them like miniature missiles as they fall down again.
"What the hell?" Kali gasps with the first bit of air she can get. Gabriel pushes them behind a massive stalagmite, out of the creature's sight. They can hear it moving in the chamber, looking for the intruders.
"I asked you a question." She snarls - albeit very quietly as to not draw any attention. Gabriel notes that she looks winded. Using the fire must have exhausted her. He's worried.
"After a twelve year cycle the Bolla transforms." Gabriel whispers, attempting to put as much information into as few words as possible. He wipes dirt off his face and peers over the edge of their stalagmite. The dragon roars again and there's a splash when its tail hits the underground lake, sending droplets of acid through the air. Lovely, Gabriel thinks sarcastically. Kali tugs on his arm.
"Transforms into what, Professor?" She asks, looking regal and competent despite being covered in mud and...other things Gabriel doesn't care to identify. Not that he looks much better. He's pretty sure he has bat-bones tangled in his hair.
"Into a Kulshedra." He says and Kali raises an eyebrow.
"Now that is helpful." She says, giving him a stern look that makes Gabriel groan.
"You know what the odds were that we arrive just when it hits its circle of transformation? Slim. Pretty damn slim to none."
"And yet here we are."
"Here we-" He doesn't get a chance to finish the sentence. The stalagmite they're hiding behind suddenly grows hot. They flinch away and stumble back, scrambling for cover. The stone grows brighter, shining red hot, then suddenly explodes into millions of little pieces, piercing the air like darts of fire. Gabriel lets out a hiss of pain as several hit his back as he pushes Kali behind the next stone. And not a second too soon. He has barely pulled his behind into the relative safety of their hiding place, when the Kulshedra bristles, looking like an overgrown and extremely pissed-off porcupine. With another cry, it spreads its wings, crashing into the walls and the ceiling. It barely pays attention when the ground moves again and more stalactites fall and shatter on the ground. It peers myopically at them and then it's like arrows being fired at them. It had shot its poisonous stingers at them, Gabriel realizes and curses.
"It breathes fire." Kali says angrily. "And it shoots quills at us. Anything else I should know?"
Gabriel shrugs. "Now would be a bad time to tell you it's damn near invulnerable, wouldn't it?"
Kali casts him a dark look. "Once we're out of here, I'm going to kill you." She says and Gabriel nods in understanding.
"How about we kill it first?" He offers, careful to remain hidden. It's not as if the poison or the fire stand a chance of actually hurting him badly - but's it's a whole different story when it comes to his vessel. The equation is easy: even though he can make his vessel stronger and more robust than the average human being, there's only so much abuse it can take before it dies on him. The same goes for Kali, he suspects.
"How do we kill it?" Kali asks, all business again.
"You could do your blood spell thing." Gabriel suggests and risks a peek at the dragon.
Wrong move. Its head whips around, yellow eyes narrow and almost blindly it shoots off more quills that land far too close for comfort. The dragon flaps its wings again, sending a rush of hot, foul-smelling air their way.
"Blood needs to be spilled." Kali says and Gabriel gives her a puzzled look.
"Blood is being spilled, sweetheart."
"Not yours, fool." She rolls her eyes. "I can only do the blood spell if its blood is spilled."
Gabriel's look turns incredulous. "I already mentioned the part where it's invulnerable?"
"You mentioned a lot of parts. None of which were too reliable." She glares at him. "Find a way to spill a drop of blood and I'll burn this thing alive."
"I'll just walk over and ask it to donate." Gabriel snarks and casts a couple of illusions. Several Gabriels and Kalis fill the chamber but the Kulshedra ignores them. Gabriel's shoulders sag with disappointment. "Worth a try."
"You didn't get the scent right."
"At least I did something."
"Are you saying..?" Kali starts but the ground shakes again before she can continue. "Later." She says and both jump away from the stalagmite a mere second before the Kulshedra's tail hits it. It's pulverized immediately. Gabriel rolls into safety, panting slightly as he inhales the scorchingly hot air. A short look shows him Kali, who has found cover behind another rock. But the creature is already after her. A shriek fills the air and Kali's hiding place is destroyed. Another shriek and poisonous quills fly at her. Flame encircles her hands. She balls her fists and sends her own fire against the dragon's attack, effectively burning the stingers in mid-flight. The dragon is momentarily taken aback and flaps its wings in frustration. Dust flies and a stalactite hits the ground almost right next to Kali. She's exhausted, hair hanging into her face. Using her fire has depleted her energies and the Kulshedra seems to sense this. It focuses its energy on Kali and Gabriel feels his insides grow cold with worry. Kali doesn't stand a chance against this creature. The Kulshedra is even older than the pagan goddess herself, stemming from a time before human memory set in. It's immune to the things that would kill any other dragon in an instant. But it's not immune to an archangel's blade.
Gabriel bits his bottom lip. He has sworn to himself not to betray his identity as an angel. For anyone.
He looks up, watching Kali burn another set of quills, dripping with poison as they hiss through the air. She's screaming something but he can't make out the words. He can't do this. The work of centuries will all be for nothing. Hell, even with his blade it would be a very close call - he clearly remembers that much from the last time he fought a Kulshedra. And back then he had Uriel and Raphael as backup.
His gaze flickers back to Kali who is fighting for her life - angry and glorious - but ultimately doomed. Why the crazy woman refuses to give any ground is beyond him, as he watches the inevitable unfold. Kali, swaying with fatigue, stumbles back and the dragon, sensing her weakness, advances. It has turned its massive body around, a difficult endeavor despite the chamber's vastness, and now faces Kali. It's putrid breath blows her hair out of her face but she takes it stoically. Her hands come up, small flames flickering in and out and it's evident that she's exhausted. Kali sways with weakeness, but stubbornly stands her ground. The Kulshedra roars, retreats its head and - spits at her.
Gabriel doesn't realize he's moving until he's in front of Kali. Once again he tackles her to the side - just in time to evade the dragon's acid saliva that burns right through the rocky ground. They crash against some rock and Gabriel shoves Kali back, into the relative safety of rocks and stalagmites.
"Stay here." He orders, unaware about the change in his attitude. "I'm going to draw some blood for you. And then you toast this son of a bitch." Gabriel barely has enough sense to cast an illusion over his blade, not enough to fool the Kulshedra's instincts but hopefully sufficing to keep Kali off the right track.
The Kulshedra freezes and tilts its head to one side as if it senses a sudden change. Its nostrils flare, little puffs of smoke escape them. The wings halt their flapping and it feels as if time itself waits with bated breath.
Gabriel, looking as un-angelic as one could possibly look, with his disheveled hair and the scorch marks on his body where droplets of acid hit him, faces the dragon, unconsciously slipping back into the habits he worked so hard to suppress. He's not aware of the Enochian battle cry that escapes his lips, nor will he ever recall actually charging the dragon. One moment he's in front of Kali and the next he's right up close and personal with the Kulshedra.
They meet in a clash of blade against scale and Gabriel slices at the leathery surface of the wings, but without any great effect. The Kulshedra howls in anger and confusion. It's not used to its prey fighting back.
His ears hurt, judging from the wetness on the neck he wouldn't be surprised to find them bleeding, but neither opponent is willing to give an inch. The Kulshedra swings its tail and though Gabriel manages to escape the brunt of it, the very tip of the tail sends him crashing into the opposite wall.
His breath is blown out of him and for a moment all he sees are funny flickering lights dancing in front of his eyes. He takes a few shaky breaths and promptly wishes he hadn't. He can now see the Kulshedra getting ready to spit at him. It arches its head back and he forces himself to move. He rolls aside and into a standing position. Acidic saliva a hits the wall and melts impressing chunks of rocks within seconds. Stalactites fall from the ceiling, crashing down all around him and Gabriel finds himself pinned between the wall and the dragon. The creature, sure of its victory against this troublesome prey, takes its time. It stands up on its hind legs, head brushing the ceiling and Gabriel's hands tighten around the hilt of his blade. He must be crazy, he thinks, but it's the only solution that holds the hint of a chance.
He would dearly like to say something witty and dramatic but naturally nothing comes to mind. So much for memorable last lines, he thinks, then pushes himself forward. The words do eventually come out - wild and infuriated Enochian - as he slides between the Kulshedra's legs and crashes into its tail (not part of the plan). Dizzy from the hit, Gabriel blinks to clear his head, but it's already too late. The tail swishes at him just as quills come flying from every direction. He barely feels the sting of the stingers as they hit his flesh - he's too occupied being stunned by the massive tail throwing him against a wall. Miraculously, his blade is still in his hands, stained with the dragon's blood. And that's when he remembers. A Kulshedra is invulnerable - except for its tail. He has drawn blood. Too bad the poison is killing his vessel. His eyelids droop and Gabriel opens his mouth to say something but no words come out. He drops to his knees, facing the dragon full on. It growls at him, too infuriated to care much about its wounded tail. Its breath hits Gabriel and he can barely keep himself from throwing up.
"Dude. Two words." He gasps. "Oral. Hygiene."
And then he passes out.
~*~
He wakes up outside, with his head in Kali's lap. This realization brings a wide, stupid grin to his face.
"Was it good for you, too, babe?" He asks and Kali groans. Her hair is a mess, thick dark tangles adorned with mud and bones of small animals. Her face is dirty and looks as pale as he has ever seen her, but she's holding herself as regal as ever.
"I was half convinced I would have to get rid of your carcass." She says with perfect dignity and Gabriel smiles.
"I love it when you talk dirty." He whispers and reaches up to brush a stray strand of hair from Kali's face.
"You do seem to have tendency to get dirty."
"Especially in the bedroom." He says, looking completely serious.
And that does it. It's small sound at first, then grows louder as she fails to hold it in. Kali, Goddess of Destruction, is giggling like a school girl and Gabriel feels more like a hero than ever before.
"That's the least you can do." She gasps through the laughter. "I expect a perfect performance after all that trouble. I had to carry you out. And you're heavy."
Gabriel shrugs, looking completely unapologetic. "And the Kulshedra?"
"Toasted." She replies with evident satisfaction. "All I had to do, was get a little of its blood and things were over within a moment."
"I love it when women take charge."
"You better." Kali replies and places his blade into his hands. Thank God the illusion is still firmly in place. "Interesting toy for a Trickster."
"Not a Trickster, love." He replies as his hands close around the hilt of his blade, possessiveness speaking out of every movement. "The Trickster."
Kali merely raises an eyebrow and Gabriel realizes he can no longer put this particular conversation off.
"You're right. I'm a bit more than a Trickster. I meant it when I say 'The Trickster'."
She quietly raises the other eyebrow.
"May I introduce myself?" Gabriel pushes himself up into a sitting position, takes her hand and presses a kiss to her palm.
"You may have heard of me already." He pulls Kali closer, who, surprisingly, allows him to, and leans his forehead against hers. There is barely a hair's breadth between their lips.
"My name is Loki." Gabriel whispers.
He can feel her laughter as his lips touch hers for the first time.