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He lifted her up, holding her effortlessly His face--handso, too hard--came close to hers as he stared into her eyes

Those wings of his seeht Not shadows like Az’s, but full, real, thick wings Black wings

Bastion’s eyes froze her "You should be dead"

Sa that a lot," she whispered

"Bastion!" Az bellowed, and then he sla collision, they all hit the ground Jade grunted at the i up and found Az and Bastion circling each other

"Going to shooton your own kind in order to protect the huuy?

Az i his body in front of hers

Bastion laughed at theto play the hero? What? Does your little uy in this story?"

Then the wind rustled around her No, not the wind Bastion He’d ht beside Jade "You’re a fool," he told her "Azrael was cast out for a reason"

Her hand reached for Az’s Her fingers locked with his

Bastion’s gaze dropped to their entwined hands He blinked, as if confused, then his eyes slowly lifted once more This time, his stare met Az’s "You’ll destroy her You know that We destroy everything that we touch"

"Not this time" Az’s words sounded like a vow

But Bastion shook his head "She should be dead One touch, and she should be dead Don’t you realize what you’ve done?"

Az wrapped his arm around her and pulled her closer to his chest

"You’ve already destroyed her," Bastion said, voice softer "You just don’t even realize it" Then he lifted his hands He stirred fire, just as she’d seen Az doin a circle Spinning--and flying right at her

Jade screaher She felt the scorch of the heat on her skin But then Az was there Wrapping her in his arht into his flesh

Taking it, then sending it back at the other angel Bastion screa flesh filled the air

Bastion vanished