Return of the Legion

Ivy's POV
I gasp in surprise as The Deviant flies higher into the nights sky, then follow it with a gasp of awe as I see what he wanted to show me. We don't even have to exchange words for me to see it.

Surrounded by a sea of stars, I look down on the compound. The full moon smiles down on the hundreds of small buildings, tiny specks of light emanating from windows. Each light represented a Wild One. All of their hopes, their fears and their desires. Everything that makes them, well, them and all the different reasons they fight. The breath taking scene before me helps put everything in perspective. It's truly a thing of absolute beauty. The emotions that well up inside of me are unexpected, though honestly humbling.

As my wide eyed gaze meets his much softer eyes, I can see nothing but honesty. I have no reason not to believe him - he's been nothing, if not forthcoming - plus, maybe there was some truth in what he said earlier, about my sister and me being half fallen angel. I've always felt different, like I didn't really belong in F.E.A.R. Like I was an outsider, but I always just chalked it up to being labeled the daughter of two known terrorists.

He smiles kindly at me, then returning his smile, my eyes flash to the long, black wings gently fluttering behind his back. Adjusting my hold on him, I carefully reach out and touch them, noticing how his body tenses up beside mine, as if he's expecting pain.

My eyes shift back to his face, transfixed, watching him earnestly, gauging his reaction. His grimace fades as my hand gently strokes his soft wings, replaced with a flash of bewilderment, then he groans, his chocolate eyes closing tightly in pleasant surprise. I continue my meticulous motions, until he is panting and shivering beside me.

"St-Stop!" He stutters and immediately I draw my hand back to his shoulder.

"I'm sorry," I murmur shyly, feeling embarrassed by my actions.

"Don't be sorry," he whispers, still breathing heavy, but regaining his composure as he carefully brushing my hair back with his free hand, "I just didn't want us to crash. I'd be okay if we did, but I was more worried about you."

Adverting my gaze, I quietly ask, "Does it...hurt when someone touches them?"

"Normally, yeah. With you, it didn't," he replies immediately as he lowers us to the sandy ground below.

"Why not with me?" I inquire, mostly to myself. "I...I don't know," he breathes, setting me down but not releasing me. He holds me close, as if I were precious to him.

As my eyes meet his bewildered gaze again, it's only now I realize the strange feeling in the pit my stomach, like a million butterflies were swarming around inside. It's not a bad feeling, just different. It's actually kind of nice, but what does it mean? What did any of that really mean?

The Prophet and Mystic approach us, The Prophet clearly none too happy. I feel awful for running...I was just...hurt? Terrified? All of the above really...

He glares at The Deviant and I'm afraid they're going to start fighting again, but that couldn't be further from the truth. He's clearly reading our thoughts about what just happened up in the sky.

"So, she's the one," The Prophet states, looking into The Deviant's eyes.

The Deviant's brows knit in confusion, then realization sets in as he looks back to me, his eyes wide and jaw hanging limp. I watch as it changes again, to a sweet lopsided smile, a light blush covering his cheeks and the corners of his eyes crinkling slightly with faint smile lines. He looks down right gorgeous.

"Yeah...I think she is," he finally whispers, never taking his eyes off me.

"The...one?" I inquire, having an idea of what they're talking about, but not knowing for sure.

"Yeah. The one," The Deviant replies, his smile widening in astonishment.

"You mean...like what humans used to call, soulmates?" I press, holding myself back from hoping.

"It's more than that," The Prophet says, "With us it's more like the lesser known twin flames. But, Deviant? That's still my granddaughter. You hurt her, I'll kill you."

"I couldn't hurt her," he replies, smirking at The Prophet.

"Never thought I'd see the day," The Mystic chuckles, shaking his head, "About damn time."

"Yeah. 300 years in the making," The Prophet jokes, with a lighthearted laugh.

The Prophet's POV
'Damn it, Ashley!' I think as I slow my pace to a easy jog, watching my granddaughter and him fly through the nights sky. Focusing in on them, I'm stunned by what I'm hearing from their thoughts.

He's showing her his reason for fighting. Showing her why he accepted the role of The Deviant...They...They don't even need to speak, she just understands him. When did this happen?

And Ashley...he's...letting her touch his wings? I don't sense any pain radiating off him, like I normally would.

'Eve,' I think, my eyes falling at the memory of the first time she touched my wings. It was so...comforting and one of the most amazing things I'd ever felt.

My gaze shifts up to them again, as he slowly lowers them to the ground in front of us again. Jinxx and I walk over to them, as he carefully sets her back on her feet, his arms still circling her.

I listen in even closer to their thoughts. My poor granddaughter seems to be having a hard time wrapping her head around what she just experienced. Ashley is trying to figure out how she could stroke his wings without feeling pain and what it could mean.

I'm really not happy about the thought that pops into my head, but I have no choice but to admit it, "So, she's the one."

'What the...? Wait...could she be? Yeah...she has to be. I felt the bond stir the first time I saw her, in that hellish prison, then I knew something was wrong when she was attacked by those Shadows, before she even got back to camp, and finally...just now when she touched my wings and I didn't feel the usual pain,' Ash thinks to himself, his eyes locked onto hers, before whispering, "Yeah...I think she is."

"The...One?" Ivy asks, as her thoughts race to figure out what we're talking about.

"Yeah, the One," he replies, his wide smile stretching further across his face, realizing beyond a shadow of a doubt that she really is his one true love, like Eve had been mine.

It only happens once for us. We can find love after, but it's definitely not the same as with that special person.

"You mean...like what humans used to call soulmates?" Ivy presses, looking up at him with a light blush staining her cheeks.

"It's more than that. For us, it's more like the lesser known twin flames," I explain, before turning to Ash and adding, "But, Deviant? That's still my granddaughter. You hurt her, I'll kill you."

Passing me a low chuckle and smug grin, he replies, "I couldn'thurt her," And judging by his thought process, I can tell it's true. He wouldn't purposely hurt her at least.

"Never thought I'd see the day," Jinxx murmurs next to me, and low laugh sneaking past his lips, "About damn time."

Laughing with him in a lighthearted manner, I reply, "Yeah. 300 years in the making."

Never dreamed it would be with my granddaughter, but I honestly couldn't have hoped for her to have found a better man, than Ashley. He's a little rough around the edges, then again, so is she. That's what will make them such a good fit for each other.

Passing him back his vest, he takes it, but leaves it off for now. Then I watch as he gently kisses her temple, and leads her back to the compound.

FRomney behind them, I hear him softly ask, "So, what will it be, Priestess? Are you going to accept your God-given role?"

She looks down as her thoughts fill with doubt and fear, though soon replaced with the memory of the compound from the sky. With determination and defiance, she tells him, "Yes, but Ava will not die, so long as I have a say in the matter."

'I hope you're right, Ivy...But...if you're wrong, I'll be here to help pick up the pieces,' Ashley thinks to himself, remaining silent and kissing her head again. Her arm slinks past them and wraps around his waist, right under his folded wings, causing him to visibly shiver.

"You're doing that on purpose now," he jokes, smirking down at her.

"Doing what?" She feigns innocence, a wicked grin giving her away, "Oh, you mean this!"

She purposely strokes the underside of his wing, making him freeze and try not to moan. Jinxx and I suppress our laughter to the best of our ability, knowing exactly what he's going through right now. Every single one of us has been there at least once in our lives. Well everyone, minus Ashley and CC.

This should be interesting...

Notes