We're Setting Worlds On Fire

The bus was completely silent-no yelling or shouting as the guys played their video games. No moaning and groaning coming from any of the bunks and no Andy. That last part was very important and Lily couldn’t keep the smile from her face as she sat in the back lounge and meditated. She had her legs crossed, her arms held out with her palms up and her eyes were closed gently. Total peace-total silence.

This is what she had been needing after being on tour with the guys for two whole weeks. Things had gotten crazy and loud-she needed a break and this was it for her. As she sat there and meditated, Lily ran things over in her brain to try and make sense of it all.

The Army had grown to gigantic numbers-over one hundred thousand kids had signed up and that was more than four times what they had had a year ago. Lily knew it was for reasons that the guys didn’t want to admit, but as she sat there she couldn’t keep the smile off of her face. The guys were now meeting with fans before every show and during those meet and greets they had new recruits sign up if they wanted to.

Not only did they meet with fans then, but also after the shows Andy would go out into the back alleys and kids would flock to him. Sometimes the guys would join him, CC going the most often, but usually it was just Andy and it really allowed him to connect with the fans.

Lily also knew it was due to Andy’s new Twitter and Instagram accounts that the fan base had grown-they could connect with him even in the middle of the night when he was pacing the bunk hall or haunting the back lounge. Lily had noticed that Andy had developed a bit of insomnia-he couldn’t sleep at night and sometimes it was impossible to get him up in time for sound check.

It was because he was so consumed with writing-he constantly had songs going through his brain and she knew that he and Jake had already written five new songs for the album that they would record right after this tour was over with. Thinking of Andy, Lily felt a blush creep up her neck and over her cheeks. Seeing him again, watching him with the fans and on stage…she knew that if she had fully functioning feelings that Lily would be in love with him once again.

Thankfully that wasn’t an issue-Gabriel had taken her feelings away long ago, removing them like a cancer and since then she hadn’t really felt much. She could feel small emotions-sadness, happiness, anger and cheerfulness. Sadly those bigger emotions-love, despair, wrath and elation were completely gone from her body, she would never feel them again and she was better off for it.

Lily sat there, her workout pants and shirt doing little to keep her warm as they had entered colder parts of the states and yet she still felt at peace. Suddenly there was a noise, someone opening the door to the back lounge and Lily cracked an eye open and groaned.


“Oh! Sorry! I didn’t know anyone was back here.” Ashley was standing in front of her, one hand on the door that he had just pushed open while the other one was out of site. He was dressed like he had been out and about-the guys had been given a day off and Lily had no idea what any of them were getting in to.

“It’s okay, I was just meditating-taking advantage of the peace and quiet.” Lily smiled up at him and Ash felt something come up within him. She looked so pretty sitting there, her bare feet resting on her knees, her purple workout top hanging off of her slim shoulders. Fuck-what the fuck?

“Oh. I-um-I can go…leave you to finish up…” He felt embarrassed. What? Ashley Purdy was never embarrassed-he was cool, calm and collected at all times. But Jesus she looked so cute sitting there with her blonde hair piled on top of her head like that.

“No, it’s okay. Di-did you want to join me?” She offered, scooting over so that there was plenty of room on the couch for the two of them. Ashley looked at her, his brown eyes wide as she patted the spot next to him and he walked over silently. Why was she being so nice? He was enemy number one-the entire reason for her being thrown back down here.

“Um, sure.” He said as he walked over towards the couch and flopped down beside her. Ashley watched as Lily smiled over at him before closing her eyes and then she raised her hands until her palms were touching. Ashley mirrored her movements and soon he found himself completely relaxed as he sat beside her.


The two of them stayed like that for awhile, but Ashley couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something nagging him the back of his mind. Lily hated him-so why all of a sudden was she being nice and inviting him to come and sit with her? Ashley cracked an eye open and his breath caught in his throat. There was a single sliver of sunlight coming in from one of the windows and it was shining right across Lily’s perfect face.

Her eyes were still closed, her long lashes resting gently on her pale cheeks and her heart shaped lips were up in a slight smile while she hummed softly to herself. Ashley wanted to reach out and touch her and he even had one of his hands raised to do so, except Lily cleared her throat and stretched her arms above her head before turning to look at him.


“Mmm-it’s always really nice and refreshing when I can meditate for longer than just an hour or two.” She was smiling at him, her lavender eyes bright and wide as she looked around. Lily wasn’t really sure what had motivated her to invite Ash to sit with her, but as the two of them sat there and smiled at one another, she kinda was glad that she did.

“How long have you been back here?” Ashley asked as he stretched his own tattooed arms over his head and tossed his head back. He had been out for most of the day with CC, who was now passed out drunk in his bunk as the two had had a few drinks with their lunch. But Ashley was glad that they had come back early-he really enjoyed his time with Lily for some reason.

“Since this morning. I think I’ve been meditating for about six hours at this point, but it’s been wonderful. I feel like my powers are finally back to full strength.” She smiled and Lily truly felt like she was more renewed. The longer she meditated, the better charged her powers were and the less run down she would feel. Being on tour and constantly going and watching over everyone-Lily hardly got to meditate for an hour uninterrupted.

“Why do you need to meditate? Andy kind of explained it to us-saying it helped you recharge, but it seems more than that.” Ashley wondered aloud and Lily felt intrigued. This was the most attention she had ever gotten from Purdy and it felt good having someone ask her about something, instead of assuming and then pouting when they didn’t get the answer they wanted.

“It does help me recharge, but I also sometimes go back home and check in while I meditate. I can’t sleep, so this is my way of shutting off my brain and refocusing on things that I need to think about.” Lily explained as she looked over at him and saw that Ashley really seemed to be interested.

“What’s it like?” He asked, his brown eyes wide and filled with wonder. He had his chin resting on a hand and his hair was tucked back behind his ears so he could see her more clearly. This was weird and Lily really wasn’t sure what to think about it.

“What’s what like?” Lily asked as she repositioned herself and now they were facing one another. She still had her legs crossed, but her arms were resting on her legs and she was looking at him. Ashley just stared-when had she gotten so beautiful? He remembered the Lily of over a year ago-scrawny, pale and a complete mess.

“Heaven…” He said and Lily was shocked. Ash’s voice was kind of breathy and he was staring at her all doe eyed and like he was in puppy love. No-no there was no way that Ashley Purdy had feelings for her. Lily cleared her throat and brushed her bangs out of her face before answering him.

“Oh, um I mean it’s what you’d expect. Puffy clouds, people in robes…lots of marble. One would think they would have picked something other than marble…it’s so expensive to keep up.” Lily laughed and suddenly he was laughing as well. He had forgotten how funny and snarky she could be and suddenly Ash found his hand reaching out to take hers.


What was he doing? Lily wanted to snatch her hand away and push him with a small bit of force, but she was weirdly comforted by this simple gesture. Here was someone, someone who had absolutely hated her in every way possible and yet he was taking the time to ask her questions. Andy had never really asked her things-he had expected an explanation, an apology and then he wanted things to go back to normal. Things would never be normal though-ever.

Lily would never be that scared little girl she had once been-she was different and Andy didn’t want to see that. He wanted to be her protector-he wanted to be her everything. Lily didn’t need an everything-she needed a friend and right now that seemed to be the role Ashley was taking.

Lily smiled and then she smiled even more when she noticed that Ashley was blushing and avoiding her gaze. Did he seriously have a crush on her? If so this could either be really fun to watch or really terrible because it could possibly rip the band apart. They both sat there in silence and Lily wondered what he was thinking. Any normal person she could just close her eyes, concentrate and know, but she couldn’t do that with Andy and Ashley.

She couldn’t control Demons, couldn’t read their thoughts or make them do things because if she could, their problems would be over and she would be back home with Michael and Metatron. That was one of the reasons why Lily was pushing the guys so hard-she wanted to go home.

She hated Earth and all of it’s problems. She couldn’t fly around, couldn’t use her powers out in the open and she was constantly having to deal with people and their feelings. Up in Heaven everyone just floated around, minding their own business as they viewed their loved ones or trained in the center. Lily had bonded with two Angels, who she had learned she was technically related to but she had loved them like brothers none the less.

A few times while meditating she had gotten through to Michael, but Mets had always been busy with God and so she had given up after a while. Now Lily and Ashley were staring right at one another and she smiled as he looked away and blushed once again.


“Sorry, I just never realized how pretty you were…” His voice was soft and shy sounding, something that Lily had never expected coming from Purdy. She laughed, giggled even and then looked him in the eye, wondering what she should say next. How did one respond to something like that? How would she have responded when she was human?

“Well you were kind of busy hating me and plotting my death, but a Demon took care of that one for you.” Lily instantly regretted saying it as soon as it left her mouth as she saw the look on his face. Ashley had lost all coloring and he had dropped her hand. Way to put your fucking foot in your mouth Lily-alienate the only friend you have and see how well that works for you.

“I-um…” He cleared his throat loudly, repositioning himself so that they weren’t sitting so close. Ashley felt completely humiliated by the way he had acted back then- he had been an unbearable ass and it was a wonder that Lily was even talking to him now.

“I’m sorry Ash, that was really nasty of me to say. Sometimes I forget that humans have feelings and emotions. Fragile beings.” Lily mused and she noticed that Ashley had cocked his head to the side and a look of confusion was on his near perfect face. Shit-he didn’t know. Hadn’t he felt it happen? Hadn’t he noticed that he wasn’t as agile and quick anymore?

“But I-I’m not-“ He stopped as the door to the back lounge came open and Lily looked up. Andy was standing there, his phone in one hand while he held an unlit cigarette in the other. He looked weirded out, confused at what he was seeing and Lily could understand why.


Here were two people, sworn enemies who hated one another and they were sitting together chatting like old friends. Andy had hoped to come back and jam with Jake and Ash in the back lounge and he had heard Ashley’s voice, but he didn’t realize that it was Lily the bassist had been speaking to. He stood there, his phone in one hand while his other held the door open and he couldn’t keep his jaw from dropping.

Why couldn’t he and Lily be like that? Anytime Andy had tried to be alone with the Angel she would walk out of the room and tell him she had to be by herself. Now she was sitting in front of him with his best friend, chatting like they were the best of friends in the entire world.

It was fucked up beyond words and Andy could only stare at them with his wide blue eyes and open mouth.


“Uh-hey guys.” He stuttered out and he watched as Lily nearly jumped at the sound of his voice. She was looking at him like he was going to explode and he wondered what had her so spooked. Ashley moved over slightly, putting more distance between he and Lily but Andy already knew that she was practically sitting on top of him.

“Hey man-how was your day off?” Ashley asked as the bassist got up and turned to look down at Lily. ‘What do we do?’ he seemed to be asking her with his eyes and Lily only shrugged.

“It was good. Finally talked to Angel-good news, she’s gonna come out and visit for a few days since they don’t need her at the club.” Andy said before turning around and leaving.

Lily groaned-really? Because it wasn’t hard enough dealing with Andy now and getting him to do things…with Angel the stripper around it was going to be near impossible. Both she and Ashley shared a look and they both knew that the next few days were going to be pure Hell.

Simple as that.

Notes

Looks like Lily has made a new friend. Is Ashley really getting feelings for her, or there something else going on in his mind?

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