(Crimson is Red, Sapphire is Blue...I love this ship how 'bout you?)

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(Crimson)

The local tavern was a new favorite haunt of mine. I've been staying with Sapphire the Angel for two weeks on account of I 'let slip' I have nowhere to stay and he wants to be assured I'm completely healed before I went on my wanderings again. At the moment, however, I wanted to be anywhere else but the tavern.

Glaring at the woman across from me, my lip curled into a snarl. "I don't need a damn babysitter," I told her. She scoffed.

"Forgive me for not trusting a half-blood," she shot back, "Last I checked you owe allegiance to no one. King Nightmare just wants to be assured that his agent is doing his job."

"The only one I owe allegiance to is myself," taking a swig of my drink I continued to glare at her, "The job is going smoothly. You can't rush these things if you want them done properly."

"We both know there are easier ways of corrupting a heart. Spells, enchantments-"

"Will get you a black heart but not if you want control. You need to do it slowly, gain trust, gain real emotion for the bond to be at its strongest."

"But that's a risky venture for you, half-blood. You don't have the strength to keep yourself from any emotion," she protested. I wanted to slap her.

"I'm stronger than you'll ever be, Killer," I told her quietly, "Now, go back to Hell and tell your king that he'll get his heart. He just has to wait." With that, I stood up and left the tavern, throwing my cloak over my shoulders.

Corrupting a heart was indeed a risky business. Many daemons just use magic to do it, but I doubt King Nightmare's plan needs a mere black heart. He wants access to heaven. So does King Reaper. So I needed control over Sapphire's heart to make it properly corrupted, not just black and broken.

My slow process was a deeper magic than mere spells or potions. If I could get the angel to fall in love with me, then I would have not only corrupted him but he would be mine and mine alone, forever.

I smirked at the thought of having a Guardian Angel belonging to me. They were some of the more powerful angels. My smirk deepened at the thought of Sapphire being that angel.

My mission came back to me and my smirk became a scowl as I stopped walking. No, Sapphire wouldn't belong to me... he'd belong to Nightmare.

With a now sour mood, I made my way back to Sapphire's house. His little cottage sat in a secluded part of the woods, snug in a clearing that looked like a piece of Heaven itself to me. Greens and bright colors bloomed all the time, so different from where I lived. The only stones were moss covered and grey, not everywhere and made of obsidian or other black, smokey substances. The brightest thing, however, was the lean, muscular, soft-looking blue-eyed angel struggling to cut firewood in the yard.

His grunts of effort were music to my ears as I approached him, unnoticed.

"Need a hand?" I asked him. He whipped around, clutching the ax. He saw it was me and smiled, setting the ax down.

"No, you'll hurt yourself. I'm doing just fine," he said, setting up to chop the logs again.

"Physical activity would help get my strength back~" I insisted, reaching for the ax. He pouted at me, the gentle curve of his mouth unfitting for such an expression.

"Tell me your name and I'll let you," he countered, holding the ax.

"Kiss me and I'll tell you, dove~" I whispered. He shuddered at my voice but gave me another small pout. I knew he loved my voice, especially when I purred his name into his ear. If one could say he had any vices, it'd be his adoration of my voice. If I bothered to use the Incubus powers Nightmare had woken up, I'd probably find more. But I didn't want to force him. I wanted him to let me in naturally. Thus our game of the lack of my name and my teasing.

"How many times are you going to ask me that?" he pouted.

"Until you do it," I said, gently taking ax from his grasp, "C'mon, I know you have other work. Let me do this and you can manage your other chores."

"Fine," he sighed, "But if I see you hurting I'm taking over again, okay?"

"Fine by me, dove," I said, setting a log on its end.

"Stop calling me 'dove'!" he protested with a small blush, walking towards the house. I just chuckled, tossing my cloak aside as I held up the ax to swing. After a few logs, the shirt got soaked in the sweat of exertion and the noon-day sun. Taking it off, I threw it on top of my cloak and continued chopping the logs for Sapphire.

(Sapphire)

I was washing dishes in the kitchen when he took his shirt off. My view was clear out into the yard from the window over the sink and I found myself staring as he tossed his soaked shirt away and kept working. Even though I had already seen him without a shirt, my eyes wandered over his muscles as he actually used them. They rippled with every impact of the ax on a log, shining with exertion. My hands hovered with a dish as I watched him, taking in all of his strength. He turned around to move the log pile and my heart skipped a beat at the extensive scars on his back. I had seen those same scars on a few other people. Criminals, mostly, stuck in prison, awaiting trials or death. The scars of torture or punishment, abuse.

Whip scars.

I had never seen his back but the whip scars stood out in sharp definition and I gasped at their depth, dropping the glass in my hands and causing it to break on the counter. My nameless friend whipped around at the noise and I ducked with a squeak.

"Sapphire, you all right in there?" came his call. Shoot, he heard me...

"Yeah, I-I'm fine!" I called back.

"You sure?" he sounded closer. No, don't come in!

I popped back up, "Yeah, just fine! Broke a glass is all!" He stood outside the window and I smiled at him. He nodded to me and turned back to the logs. He was almost done with the pile.

Letting out a hefty sigh, I cleaned up the broken glass. Using the dishes as a distraction I kept my eyes averted from the window at all costs as I thought about his back scars. Why would he have them? Who would do such a thing to him? Was he...was he a criminal?

I gulped. He couldn't be. He was too kind. He might be a bit of a flirt, but he was nice. He had his darkness about him but all mortals have an inherent darkness inside. Most just shoved it aside.

The thought of him failing judgment hurt me in a way I didn't expect. He was nice company and I never wanted him to leave. Part of the reason I never pressed for his name, I guess...If he gave me his name, he might leave because our little game was over.

I need to talk to Sans, I thought suddenly. Sans was my friend and an Angel of Judgment. If anyone could tell me if my friend would fail judgment, he could.

The sound of the door opening shocked me out of my musings when my friend entered. He let out a huff of air, smiling.

"What a workout," he said to me, "Thanks for letting me get some energy out, Sapphire."

"Um, can I ask you something?" he sat down at the table and I got him a glass of lemonade. He really enjoyed what I cooked, which made me happy.

"Anything, dove," he grinned.

"Where..." I looked at my hands, fiddling, "where did those scars on your back come from?"

A dark silence greeted me as I waited anxiously. I couldn't take it and I turned away, "I'm sorry, I-I shouldn't have asked-"

"No, you deserve to know," he said in a low tone. I looked at him. He glared at the table, his knuckles white on the glass of lemonade.

"No, really, it's your secret I shouldn't barge-"

"Listen, Sapphire," he commanded my attention. He now looked at me softly, though his knuckles were still white, "You are the kindest, nicest person I have ever met. The least I can do is repay you for that. I mean, you saved my life."

"But you still won't tell me your na-" his fist slammed down on the table and I jumped, frightened. His anger scared me. I've never seen this much emotion from him.

"That's because names have power," he said evenly, "More than you know."

"Okay, I'm sorry," I apologized softly. His gaze softened, as did his fist.

"No, I should be sorry," he chuckled a bit, "I have one hell of a temper sometimes. But if you really want to know where I got them..." he hunched his back, "Well, there were a few occasions. My step-father, my brother, my king, my so-called 'superiors': all of those fools had a hand in creating those scars. They wanted to teach me some lessons," he chuckled, "Ha, the only lesson I learned is that nobody will ever own me. I am my own master."

"Your own family did that to you?" I asked softly.

"I have no family," he said stiffly, "Just ask my brother: he's no family of mine."

"So...you're alone?" my voice was quiet but he heard me and chuckled softly.

"I have all I need, Sapphire," he grinned mischievously, "Right in front of me." He stood up as I blushed heavily. He really feels like that? Or is he just flirting...he stood in front of me, again...

"My life has been a living hell for so long, Sapphire," he said softly, looking down, "Being with you...it's like my own little heaven..."

No, no, he's flirting, he's flirting, he's... I looked into his shining red eyes. My heart beat faster.

"So don't pity my past," he said finally, sighing and looking away, "It hurts too much to see pity in your eyes. The only reason I can deal with pain...is because there's no one to tell me it hurts. So, don't start being the one who does..."

He walked away, leaving the barely drunk glass on the table and me standing alone. Some emotion stung my heart and I think it was regret. A small tear fell from my eye, surprising me when I saw it hit the ground. Why do I feel so sad about upsetting him? He's just a stranger, a new friend, a nameless mortal...I care about him as a healer, nothing more...

So why does it hurt when I say no to his advances?

Another tear joined the first.

(Crimson)

It was only mildly satisfying to know he cared about me so much. It meant the plan was working. It meant I was getting to his heart. It meant I was doing a job right for once.

I growled and forced my own emotions away. Weak, weak! I left through the back entrance of the house and went into the woods, still barechested but I didn't care. I needed to destroy something before my fire burned this mortal disguise away. Reaper had suggested keeping my scars hidden but I said no. My scars remind me that I am my own master. They tell the world I have lived through pain and won't take any bull from anyone.

Spotting a cave that gaped like a mouth to Hell I went inside it as far as I could. Then I sent fire out with a scream of rage. WEAK!

"RAH!" I screamed, blasting the cave walls. YOU'RE WEAK!

"GET OUT OF MY HEAD!" I screamed, blasting the smoke away. Killer's voice, my brother's voice: every single daemon who's called me half-blood screamed the word in my head.

Panting as the dust settled, I glowered at the darkness. I heard slow clapping and glared at the shadow on the wall.

"I thought it would take longer than three hours after our conversation for you to break," Killer's voice rang out. She stepped forward, in her daemon form, skin glimmering.

"Go to Hell," I growled and she laughed.

"Oh, half-blood, I'm from Hell. Going back is going home."

"Leave me alone, Killer, I don't need a damn babysitter," I said stiffly.

"Just use a spell, Crimson," she said as she got closer, "You're messing with magic too deep for you to handle."

"No!" I growled fiercely, "A spell now will ruin everything I've worked for!" I slashed my arm through the air, "All of it would disappear! I'd lose him!"

"You're getting attached because you're inexperienced!" she growled back, "This is better left for those who know what they're doing."

"Like who? You?" I shook my head, "Reaper used me for a reason."

"Reaper's a fool to use a half-blood like you," Killer spat, "A pureblood would be done already."

"I'm not gonna force that angel to do anything," I spat back, "I'm too close. He'll be mine by the end of the week. He already cares about me. Tell Nightmare he'll have his heart by the end of the week."

"Now, get out of my sight before I burn you to ashes..."

(Sapphire)

Where is he, where is he, where is he? Oh, why did I have to bug him about his past? Why did I have to nose around his business? Why did I have to do that?

I've done it. I blew it. I chased him away! He's never coming back now...He'll be alone again...

I'll be alone again...

I paced around the house, worried sick that I may have ruined my shot at a really good friendship...maybe something more...simply by being nosey!

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry..." I muttered to empty air. I didn't have a name to apologize to. I deserved a slap, a punch, a hit or something! Punish me, divines above! I don't deserve this right now...I've done a wrong by a good person...

"Please, just make these feelings end..." I said softly, feeling another tear roll down my face.

"What feelings?" asked a familiar, deep voice. I turned around, seeing my friend in the doorway to the kitchen. I let out a long sigh of relief and rushed to him.

"I'm sorry about asking all those silly questions! I didn't mean to upset you!" I said, feeling more tears roll down.

"Hey, hey, Sapphire, don't cry..." he whispered softly. I felt him rub my back and I had the sudden wish for him to stroke my wings, feel my silky feathers, feel my true form...

"Hey, um, are you serious about your trade?" I asked him softly.

"Trade? What trade?"

"The trade, the deal... your name for a kiss...Are you serious about it?"

His hand grabbed my chin and brought my eyes to his. He smiled gently at me, "Of course I am, dove..."

"So, one little kiss and you'll tell me your name? You promise?"

"I promise."

A smile tugged at my lips. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I pulled him down and kissed him gently. He kissed back immediately, matching my gentleness. His lips were warm and dry. I could feel a scar on his upper lip press into my lips as I kissed him. The kiss only had to be short and I should have pulled away but...I didn't want to.

My fingers curled into his dark hair as my arms pulled me up to him. His arms wrapped around my waist and pulled me up close. My hand slipped and I felt his bare shoulders. He was still shirtless.

Finally, he broke away with a soft sigh and looked down at me. My heart raced and felt light, my mind wished for nothing more than to kiss him again, and my body called out to be close to him.

"You're so soft, Sapphire..." he whispered softly, caressing my cheek. I stared up into his shining red eyes, watching them sparkle lightly as he looked down at me.

"What's your name?" I breathed gently.

"Crimson. My name is Crimson."

(Crimson)

He was soft and gentle, and his lips tasted like honey. He looked up at me softly, lost in a little rush of emotions.

"Why are you ashamed of that name?" he asked softly. I glanced away, chuckling softly.

"That's not the part I'm ashamed of," I told him, "My other name is Half-Blood."

He pulled away, slightly confused, "Why do you have such a name?"

"Like I said before, it's a bastard's name," I said slightly bitterly, "Because I'm not my mother's husband's child."

"Well, Crimson," he didn't use my last name, "I think you need a new name. Because you're no bastard in my eyes."

Chuckling softly again, I relaxed my grip as I looked at him, "You're the only one who thinks so, then."

He gave me a tight hug, "Then I'm the only one who matters."

His stiffness and conviction surprised me. No one had ever cared for me as much as he did, and I've only known him for two weeks. He was too kind, too pure for people like me...

I tried prying him off, "Sapphire..."

He held tighter, "Please, don't make me go away. I'm tired of being here alone. Of being alone."

He's lonely? This bright little star is lonely?

"Just, let me hold you..." he whispered into my chest. My still bare chest.

"I..." felt at a loss for words.

"I've never had someone like you to hold..."

His words stunned me because they mirrored my own feelings. I've never, ever, had anyone to hold. No friends, no family, no love...

"Will you stay with me tonight?" Sapphire asked softly, looking up at me, "Sleep in the bed with me?"

Staring into his deep, bright, beautiful, gem-like eyes, I saw something more than care.

I nodded, "Sure," I agreed softly. Sapphire sighed, leaning into my body. I hugged him back, then picked him up. He didn't protest, just held on tighter as I carried him to the bedroom. Setting him on the bed, I crawled in next to him and laid down. He snuggled into my arm with a pleasant sigh.

"Thank you, Crimson..."

"You're welcome, Sapphire," I said, "Sleep well."

"Sweet dreams," he whispered, yawning. As he rested his head on my chest, using me as a pillow, he slowly fell asleep.

With his chest rising and falling gently, I felt his little warm breaths on my skin as he breathed. I watched him, smiling. This was the first time I've ever been this close to someone while sleeping...it felt nice. He felt nice. His warm, soft, scar-less body pressed against mine. His honey-sweet lips lingered on my mouth as I smiled at him. His sweet nature of caring...

There was a hard thump in my chest and my breathing paused for a moment.

What was that? It happened again. I felt over my chest, feeling the thump as it repeated for the third time.

Daemons don't have heartbeats. Our hearts lie still. That is, unless we're in love...

The thump came again at the thought and I almost sat up.

No, no, no, I can't be...! I looked down at Sapphire's sleeping figure and the thump came again, sooner this time.

Staring down at the sweet, innocent, caring angel in my arms, the thumps settled into a rhythm. Ba-bum, ba-bum, ba-bum, steady, perfect: like Sapphire.

A rush of feelings flooded my mind and I had one thought: he's mine. He's mine and I'm his. The heartbeat proved it.

Ba-bum.

I'm in love...