Subject: [OTL]: Just One Word (Sandman) Date: Thu, 24 Oct 2002 13:59:32 -0700 From: Anne Marsh DISCLAIMER: I obviously don't own the characters. The fabulous Neil Gaiman does, and I dare not profit from his genius. I do, however, dare to write fanfic. Dare, dare, dare, la-di-da and fiddle-dee-dee. Author's Note: Set at any point after Morpheus gives Remiel and Duma the key. Just One Word [1/1] "Just one word, Duma. You know you are no longer the angel of silence. One word, that's all I ask." Duma looked at Remiel, his face still frozen in the one gentle, mysterious smile that the other guardian could not place. "I can read every other look, every other twitch of an eyebrow or quirk at the side of your mouth, but I do not know what you think of now. Tell me. Please." He turned again to look off into space, that smile still in place on his eternally-beautiful countenance. It was, Remiel decided, maddening. But Duma still smiled and said nothing. Even here, in the place which is farthest from the light of God, he smiles. "Something makes you happy, even in the Pit. What? How is it that, so far removed from the Presence, you can be... at peace? Duma, you can answer me." Duma did not answer. "One word. Is it the Creator? How can it be, when thoughts of the Creator only serve to remind me of the gap placed between us that I do not deserve? Thoughts of something... what?" Still, Duma was silent. Perhaps, even without his title, he had no voice. This thought crossed Remiel's mind, as did others. If Duma had a voice, what would it sound like? Beautiful, he knew that much. There was no other choice but for it to be beautiful, as Duma himself, as all angels. Even after the Fall, Samael, Lucifer, kept his beauty. With Samael, however, the problem was never getting him to talk. It was getting him to stop. "Duma, there must be some way you can let me know? What thoughts bring you peace here? Is it our Lord? Is it something else? What?" Duma still said nothing, still gazed off at nothing. Remiel moved to the side of his companion's lounge, dropped to his knees before the other angel, taking one perfect hand between both of his. "One word, Duma. Is that too much to ask? I followed you into the Pit! All I want is a moment's peace, and you seem to have found that. So please, I beg of you, what is it that makes you so happy, that I cannot read in your face? One word..." Duma looked down at him, his expression remaining the same. He paused. His lips parted in their smile, as if to speak. Everything was still, waiting for just one word. "Remiel."