We're Setting Worlds On Fire

“I just don’t understand how I could be so stupid…” Andy grunted as he threw out his left fist and then his right. The punching bag in front of him stayed put, but that was only because Lily was behind it, holding the heavy bag in place. They had been training for an hour and Andy was finally getting all of his anger towards Lattie and her lies out of his system.

“That’s what happens when you’re in love…you lose any common sense you ever could have had.” Lily was teasing him, her eyes staring into his and Andy couldn’t help but smirk. It had been two days since Lattie’s departure and Lily was being overly nice to him for some reason.

“I never loved Lattie…I’ve only ever loved one person and you know it.” She stuck her tongue out at him, her lavender eyes closing softly and Andy felt his heart drop out of his chest. She looked so good standing across from him, her blonde hair piled up on top of her head, but her bangs and other shorter tendrils were swirling in her face. She had on a black sports bra, her tight stomach ending in an even tighter pair of hot pink yoga pants and of course she was barefoot.

“Yeah well love is stupid.” Lily said, her tone serious and she obviously wanted this subject shut down. Thinking about Andy, thinking about what they used to be-it made her sad and Lily never felt sad. Listening to him cry in his bunk at night and seeing his sad face over the past few days…it broke Lily’s heart.

“Not when it’s with the right person…” He smirked at her and Lily only rolled her eyes as she moved from the bag and began to work on some of her somersaults. She flipped, feet over head, her blonde hair flying everywhere and Andy couldn’t help but feel mesmerized.


The two of them moved around one another-Andy working on more of his strength training, while Lily continued to work on her sparring and fire control. She could now make fire burst from her fingertips, no longer needing a match or lighter. The only element that she had yet to gain control over was Earth and Lily was never really sure she would be able to get the hang of it. Andy stopped to watch her, his eyes on the ceiling where a large bird made of fire was swirling around the rafters of the abandoned building they were currently practicing in. As the bird dipped and dove around, Andy looked down and caught site of Lily.

The fire was reflecting in her lavender eyes, making her look more menacing than she really was. It was strange-the two of them had come to an understanding that Andy wouldn’t touch Lily and she wouldn’t use her powers against him. They had come to a peaceful harmony of sorts and Andy was grateful for it. The other guys seemed to be grateful as well-with Lily and Andy getting along, they were able to have a little more fun and Lily seemed to be having some fun as well. She wouldn’t drink-not that it did much for her anyways-but she did seem to enjoy watching the guys have a good time. Andy just wished that she would love him again…he needed her…they all did.


“You’re amazing…” He breathed as Lily allowed her bird to disappear in a puff of gray smoke and she only smiled at him as she looked down from the ceiling. He was standing there, his mouth hanging open slighting and his red basketball shorts and gray t-shirt were covered in sweat.

“Thanks-I’ve been meditating a lot when you guys are asleep…” Lily said as she moved over to her duffle bag and pulled out a bottle of water. As she sipped, Lily noticed that Andy had also grabbed his water and was coming towards her.

“I’ve noticed.” He was right infront of her then, his hand held out and Lily placed her hand in his gently. They were walking now and Lily just followed behind Andy as he led her towards a set of stairs.


They walked up the stairs and Andy kept silent as he just held her hand tightly and focused on getting them to their destination. He hadn’t planned on doing this and frankly he was shocked that Lily was allowing him to have contact with her for such a long time. Finally after going up three flights of stairs, they both came to a shut door, which Andy kicked in and the dark hallway was filled with light. He was taking her to the roof and Lily couldn’t help but smile as the wind hit her in the face and she closed her eyes.

The sky was fading-it was nearly time for them to head to the club for soundcheck, but it was absolutely beautiful up here. The clouds were grayish-blue, the horizon painted with fading colors of red, orange and pink. Lily sucked in a breath as Andy led her over towards the ledge of the roof and soon they were sitting beside one another, their feet dangling over the side. Lily had her hands at her sides, her palms pressed against the rooftop and she couldn’t help but smile as Andy pressed a hand against the top of hers and looked at her sweetly.

“I wanted to bring you up here because I thought it would be a nice way to end our workout session.” He explained and Lily only nodded her head as she raised her face towards the Heavens and closed her eyes. It was so quiet up here-silent and peaceful and it would be hard to get Lily to go back down to leave.

“Thank you-it reminds me of being home.” Lily said as she opened her eyes and turned to look at him. Andy looked so sad sitting there beside her-his black bangs were hanging in his face and those blue eyes of his were welled up with tears.

“Do you miss it? Heaven?” He asked and Lily only smiled as she locked eyes with him. He was being so sweet to her and it was times like this that Lily desperately wished she could love again…she knew she still loved Andy, she just didn’t know how to go about loving him.

“I do-I had friends up there…I had a purpose.” Lily sighed, running a hand through her bangs as she tried to swipe them out of her face. Andy only nodded his head before looking down at their hands and then back up at her.

“I wish I had a purpose. All I do is get up on that stage and sing…” Andy sighed heavily and Lily suddenly felt sad. Andy had a purpose in life-he had saved so many people already and it was something that had been given to him because God knew he could handle it.

“Andy you do have a purpose. You’ve been surviving on your youth and a bottle of whiskey a night, but that’s why I’m here.” Lily smiled over at him, her lips curving up into that adorable smirk that he had always loved.


As they sat on that roof top, Andy couldn’t help but be reminded of the first time he had seen her smile. They were in his apartment, back in Hell, and he had just caught her dancing around, the then unknown music player in her ears as she jumped around and had a grand old time. When she had turned around, that same smile had been on her face-the first time he had ever seen anything on her face besides sadness and pain.

They had spent all night, learning about music and about one another. That was one of the first things she had ever taught him about and Andy would forever be reminded of Lily when he thought of music. Now here they were, sitting on a roof top somewhere in the South, the fading sun painting their faces and all Andy could think about was the past.

What about the present? He had seen Lily and Ashley growing closer and while he thought it was Lily’s reaction to Angel being around, the two of them had grown even closer. Andy had walked in on them earlier that day, Ashely leaning down, a hand resting against her cheek and all Lily could do was smile at him gently. She never smiled at Andy like that-she would hardly come near him and suddenly he was wondering if her inability to love was all it was cracked up to be. Could she really not love? She could feel certain things-happy, sad and angry. So why was love any different? What made Ashley so special that Lily would love him and not Andy?

What was wrong with him?


“Lily-can I ask you a question?” Andy asked and Lily only laughed as she reached up and tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear. Andy was sitting next to her, his knees up against his chest and his hair was flying all around his face. She could just make out his crystal blue eyes behind all of the wild black strands and her breath caught in her throat.

“Well you just did hot shot-care to ask me another?” Lily laughed as Andy sighed and looked away for a minute. When he looked back she could see the tears in his blue eyes and Lily felt something in her flicker for a moment.

“Do-do you love Ashley?” He asked, his voice muffled since he was pressing his lips against his shoulder and barely making eye contact with her. Where was this coming from? Lily thought back and suddenly she knew-Ashley was going through something and Lily was trying to be supportive, but of course Andy was seeing that as something else entirely.

“I-um-Andy…I can’t love. Have you forgotten already?” She smirked at him, bumping her shoulder against his and Andy couldn’t help but chuckle. He knew it sounded dumb, but something was telling him that there was something more going on.

“I-I mean I just thought that was an excuse. That you didn’t want to love me anymore…” He was nervous about her answer and Lily could tell that he knew something was off. Sadly this something wasn’t for her to tell-it was Ashley’s and he had sworn her to secrecy.

“Andy-I can’t love anyone…ever. That ability has been taken away from me and I’m better for it. Ash is going through some stuff and I’m just trying to be supportive.” She explained and Andy only nodded his head as he looked off into the distance.


The city was so big and the people walking around it so tiny. He smirked as he thought back to what he assumed about humans. There had been a time when Andy had thought humans were the lowest of the low-nothing more than vermin who sought out to destroy one another. He had been wrong-Lily had proved him wrong when she had taken on the task of teaching him about being human.

All those hours spent, learning things and asking questions-it had been difficult and long, but now he felt certain that he was fully capable of being human. They had fallen in love then and after that Lily had been taken from him and now he was nothing. He had nothing but his youth and the bottle of whiskey that had kept him company.


“I know, I was just wondering.” He was looking at her again and Lily blushed. There was still such a look of love and devotion in his eyes and Lily knew that he still pined after her.

“Look, you have to become stronger from this. Use your pain to write more songs…songs to inspire people. The bastard son of Satan himself, rising up against everything he has ever known to lead an Army of the most wretched and lonely ones. Be proud of yourself Andy…be the dream you’ve always wanted to be.” Lily was holding him now, her hands resting on his shoulders as she looked him right in the eyes.


Andy thought about her words and he knew deep down she was right. Love had helped him get to where he was, as had his youthful desire to make the best of himself and the whiskey didn’t hurt either. But really it had been Lily all along-his Angel…his one and only. She was right of course-he needed to stop wallowing in his grief and misery and actually make something of himself and his pain. He needed to write. They already had six songs for the album, but Andy knew they would need more and as he sat there and looked at the Angel before him and thought about her words…he knew that he had something in mind.


“Lily! I could kiss you right now!” Andy was laughing and smiling at her and Lily let her hands fall from his shoulders as she moved her face away from his. She hadn’t realized how close they actually were to one another, but she suddenly could feel his breath on her cheeks and Lily was worried at what he was going to do next.

“P-please don’t.” She said simply and Andy only laughed, throwing his head back as his hair fell down around his shoulders like a great mane.

“You are brilliant and I love you!” Andy was holding her now, pulling her towards him and suddenly her head was resting against his chest. She could hear his heart beating, feeling it thumping against his chest and against her temple.

“I-um…” She was now face to face with him and before she knew it, Andy was pressing his lips against hers.


Something happened when their lips touched-memories flooded back to her that Lily had long forgotten. Kissing on the couch, cuddling in the wee hours of the morning and many more. One memory that flashed across her eyes was one that she had buried deep and as she watched the two of them make love for the first time, Lily felt something in her break and then she knew…

She had never stopped loving Andy, she just had stopped being able to know how to love him.

Notes

Bit by bit we're learning everything about what has happened to Lily. Don't worry-I have an entire chapter where she tells Andy exactly how and why she can't love him.
I've been trying to update for you guys frequently, but with the Super Bowl coming up I am getting more and more busy with work. So, I will try and update, but I make no promises...

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