The Plot Bunny (16 page)

He thought he lost consciousness for a second—or was it more? Either way, he arrived just in time to see his lovers' car sink into the gulf, with Simon and Luc still trapped inside. Without sparing a thought as to what it might mean to him, Dury pushed his spirit in the direction of the car. He only hoped it wouldn't be too late.

* * * *

Luc fought against the rising panic as water flooded the car. It went down faster than was natural, or maybe it just seemed like that to Luc. He felt time running out, death approaching with every second that passed. He could no longer think logically, and everything inside him turned to instinct, the mad desire to survive. He tried the doors and the windows, but they were jammed. Both were automatic and had stopped working at some point. With a strength born out of sheer despair, Luc twisted in the seatbelt and started kicking at the window with his foot.

Simon seemed to have a better idea, and while Luc struggled with the window, he blindly reached for the glove compartment. Luc forced himself to still and allow Simon to find whatever he was looking for. A little part of him that remained rational told him that Simon, as a sculptor, was bound to have some sort of heavy tool inside the car. He clearly remembered Simon purchasing all sorts of new chisels wherever they went, as if the old ones weren't good enough.

Time slowed as Simon continued to search. All the while, Luc attempted to attack the doors and windows, but with no success. He tried to hold his breath, but he soon found that he could no longer do so. His body demanded air, and, in panic, Luc attempted to breathe. He felt water fill his mouth, choking him, and tried to expel it, but his desperate efforts only made it worse. More liquid invaded his airways, and Luc knew that if he didn't do something soon, they'd both die there.

He managed to keep consciousness long enough to see Simon retrieve what looked like a hammer. He felt a brief flicker of hope inside him, hope that they would not die here after all.

Simon lifted the hammer and hit the windshield with the heavy tool. A small crack appeared on the window. Luc mentally urged Simon to hurry. He could feel himself falling, falling, his survival instinct yielding to the power of the water. At this point, even if Simon broke the windshield, it would take a miracle for Luc to make it out alive. Perhaps Simon would, at least, survive.

Unfortunately, the hammer slipped out of Simon's hands before the sculptor could get the chance to break free. Under Luc's astonished eyes, it vanished, disappearing straight through the floor of the car. Seeing their final hope vanish so cruelly gave Luc a boost of strength and he started struggling once again.

In the end, all his efforts were in vain. As the terror and pain mixed inside him, he realized he could no longer fight the inevitable. He couldn't do anything to stop this, to save himself or his lover.

But then a sudden warmth enveloped him, slender arms wrapping themselves around him in a strong hold. The soft touch of wings tickled at Luc's skin and the window cracked as light filled the vehicle. Somehow, Dury had come for them.

* * * *

Simon knew Luc was dying. He himself didn't have much time left, but he had more experience with swimming and diving so he could hold his breath longer. Longer did not mean forever, though. He felt himself fade toward unconsciousness, when a bright, warm sensation enveloped him. Immediately, Simon knew Dury was there.

Just like that, the water that choked him made no difference. His weakness didn't matter and his panic faded. Even his survival instinct seemed to back off. Maybe he'd died, and he just hadn't realized it yet. The thought should have unsettled him, but with Dury's presence came acceptance and relief. He didn't know why. By rights, he should be fighting for his life still. No, that wasn't right. He'd wanted this—perhaps not to every specific detail—but he'd accepted to give up his mortal life in exchange for seeing Dury again. For a moment there, he'd forgotten, too lost in his panic to remember.

Dury's warmth was there now, and Simon let go, knowing it would be all right now. The connection he and Luc felt in the past few weeks bound them together, and everything else vanished but that link. Through it, he could sense his Dury, so strong, passionate, brave, and so very beautiful. Dury's soul seemed to reach out to Simon like a bright light, a beacon to guide his way.

All of a sudden, the connection started to flicker and Dury began to fade. Simon reached out to his angel, only to realize he couldn't feel Dury any longer. Instead, he felt water invading his lungs, squeezing the life out of him. How could that be? When had it happened? And where was Dury?

As he struggled to cling to consciousness, he realized that Dury's mortal body was right there, by his side. The light of Dury's soul dimmed, as if extinguished from inside out. Simon saw Dury mouth a silent cry of pain, but he didn't understand what could be wrong. Worse, he could do nothing to stop it. Even with the windshield broken, Simon felt too weak to drag his lovers out of the sinking vehicle.

He took one more look at Luc and Dury, willing them to save themselves, and at the same time knowing it could not be. Then, the last remnants of his strength waned and he surrendered to unconsciousness.

Darkness took him, cold and uncaring. At first, it seemed like nothingness surrounded him, but then, flashes of his past rolled through his mind's eye. He saw Susie as a child, laughing at something he'd said. An image of their parents in their large mansion home popped up. As always, they were wearing pristine, elegant outfits, and their stern eyes analyzed their children, clearly finding them lacking. The memory of the day he'd come out followed, and his subsequent abandonment by his parents. But he'd done all right without them, and Susie had as well. He saw himself holding his twin's newborn children, celebrating birthdays and anniversaries.

Then, a flash of a tall, dark-haired man took over. He held a champagne glass as he admired one of Simon's commissioned works. Luc. In a few instants, Simon's mind swept through the entirety of their lives together, their first kiss, his first sculpture of Luc, their gradual separation leading up to that fateful night of their breakup, then meeting Dury.

Simon saw a young man seated on a church bench, wearing a cap with the Playboy bunny symbol and a T-shirt that cutely begged,
Won
'
t you be my seme?
He was smiling naughtily, a few strands of blond hair escaping the cap.
"
I
'
m your plot bunny,
"
Dury said.

It occurred to Simon then that this memory wasn't his, but Luc's. Somehow, their minds had become entwined, and Simon could see what had happened in Luc's past as well. It was the most peculiar experience, and Simon watched everything as he would a weirdly familiar movie. He saw both himself and Luc with Dury, and realized that from the very beginning, Dury had always fought to bring them back together.

Knowing that somehow made it easier to let go. Why oppose it anyway? Clearly, his body had given up the fight. Perhaps Luc and Dury would be by his side when this was all over.

Just like that, the images started to fade. A voice emerged in his mind, calling out his name, and in an instant, Simon was flying. The slideshow of events from his past life vanished, as did his watery grave. An inexorable strength urged him forward, and Simon's world turned into a universe of frightful, unfamiliar white. It called out to something inside him, and Simon clung to that hidden knowledge, allowing it to guide him.

The unseen path took him farther and farther, until Simon thought he would never reach his destination. His mind could not yet process where he was, and a part of him still ached to return to his normal, human world. But then he felt Luc's presence by his side. He tried to turn, but he couldn't, nor could he move in any way.

In the end, he didn't have to dwell on this for too long. His journey ended, and he landed face front on something that felt far too much like grass. He caught sight of Michael above him before he keeled over, exhausted and frightened.

"Welcome to heaven, human," the archangel told him.

To Simon, this didn't seem like heaven at all. His body felt weird, not his own, and his ears were invaded by a peculiar wheeze. Spots danced in front of his eyes, and he thought he could sense his lungs contract, trying to draw in air where there was none.

"Those are just remnants of the way you died," Michael said calmly. "You have to calm down and let go."

"You shouldn't have pushed them into something so traumatizing," a female voice scolded. "Any other way of dying would have worked better."

Michael sighed. "Please, Jezebel. You know the whole thing had to be believable, and an accident was the best choice. Taking into consideration that the families may want the bodies in one piece, I didn't have too many options."

Simon resented Michael for talking about this whole thing with such coolness. No matter what the archangel said, they should have been at least warned of the plan.

"Damn humans," Michael muttered, completely undeterred. "Always clinging to their petty lives so desperately."

"Michael, don't curse," the woman—Jezebel—said under her breath. "Remember where we are."

"Right. My apologies, Jezebel. It's just that…"

"Yes, I know. It's all right. Duriel is fine."

The woman's words snapped Simon out of his trance. He forced the dizziness back and looked up at Michael. "Dury? What happened to Dury?"

"Nothing," a soft voice replied. A pale Dury emerged from behind Michael. The small angel leaned against his father and offered Simon a small smile. "I'm right here."

"You shouldn't have gone in the first place," a beautiful, blond woman replied. Simon identified her as Jezebel, and a quick glance told him she was related to Dury. Her build was slender, like Dury's and her golden hair shone in the same way Dury's did. Simon recalled the conversation in the car, with Michael telling them about his bonded mate. Had it been just that same day? It seemed ages ago. It did help, though, to know the woman was Dury's mother. She looked young, so she could have very well been his sister.

"
I couldn
'
t
not
go, Mother,
"
Dury answered.

By Simon's side, Luc cleared his throat. "Excuse me, but why is Dury sick? What were those weird pains we felt while on Earth?"

Luc struggled to his feet, coughing, and Simon did his best to echo his lover's movements. "Don't worry about that," Dury hastily replied, rushing to their side. "I'm fine now."

"It's a miracle you are still alive," Michael said in a disapproving tone. "With the time it took to get their souls here, you could have died on the way."

Simon winced, understanding the reprimand. They'd decided to come here and give everything up for Dury's sake, but in the end, they'd still struggled to live, pathetically clinging to their mortal existences, just like Michael said. If Michael hadn't been there, Dury would have perished.

"I'm sorry," Luc said, his voice filled with regret, echoing Simon's sentiments. "We panicked."

"It's completely natural," Dury answered. "Don't worry. Father is just being harsh."

It was only then that Simon allowed himself to really look at Dury, to acknowledge the reality of Dury's presence by their side. Relief came with that realization, and their ordeal didn't matter anymore. He glanced into Dury's green eyes, taking in his angel's appearance. How could he have ever thought Dury belonged anywhere other than the heavens? He could see it so clearly now, in the beauty and flawlessness of his features, the bright light emanating from his entire being. To top it off, Dury's wings were now extended, like they'd been in the church. But even without them, Dury was purity and perfection incarnate. It seemed like a beautiful dream that Simon had been allowed to come here, to be at Dury's side.

But then Simon understood why. Beyond their talent, the gifts he and Luc received from God, they both had something else. Love, plenty of love to give. Love between them, and love for Dury.

Simon took Luc's hand and squeezed it. He found strength in the other man's grip, and together, they stepped forward toward their angel. Dury met them halfway and they fell into a three-way embrace, right there, under the eyes of Michael and Jezebel.

"I was so frightened," Simon confessed. "I thought we'd never see you again."

"I missed you so much," Luc said in turn.

"Me too," Dury murmured. "Me too."

As they broke the embrace, Simon realized that while they'd been lost in the moment, more angels had gathered. "Come," Michael said. "You are here for a reason."

A white, cobbled path appeared in front of Simon's feet, and Simon had a brief notion of being Dorothy in the Land of Oz, before pushing his stupid fancies to the back of his mind. He followed behind Michael as the archangel led them down the road.

Seemingly out of nowhere, a white city materialized around them as they walked. Tall, wispy-looking buildings appeared, most of which seemed dwellings of sorts. In fact, Simon even thought he could see children looking out of windows. It intimidated him to know that he was an outsider and intruder here.

Feeling lost, he stared at the path, wondering what was beneath them. Before he knew it, the road turned transparent, nearly fading under Simon's feet. "Holy shit!" Simon gasped out. "Jesus—"

As Michael froze, Dury clamped his hand over Simon's mouth, stopping Simon from taking the Lord's name in vain once again. "Sowwy," Simon said, his apology muffled by Dury's warm palm.

Without a word, Michael started walking again. Dury let out a small laugh and released him. "Be careful with language here," he whispered. Louder, he said, "Beneath us, there are other houses, for more angels. Here is where archangels live."

Luc let out an "ah", and Dury proceeded to give them more explanations about his city and the angels in general. Apparently, all angels had a purpose and a job. Some were heralds, others worked miracles to heal people, while most archangels were soldiers. Sometimes, these warriors—like Dury's father—would interfere to fix something that went wrong in the human world, or fight demons or creatures up to no good. Other angels brought souls to the mortal realm or collected them once the person holding that soul died.