This Ain't a Meme, It's an Arms Race

[inwhichwar]

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Raphael | OC/Christian Myth | noncombatant/medic

[stirsthewaters]

[You know this guy. Everyone seems to know this guy. He's that guy who always has a light when everyone else is out of matches. The one who can find bandages where nobody else can. The one who's always in whatever trench or foxhole needs him there the most, who specializes in talking sense to the scared and the angry and the wounded.

Weirdly, nobody seems to know what unit he's officially with. Or where he's from, come to think of it. He's just here, a fixture of the war just like official incompetence and delayed peace treaties.

And when you need a medic, and there shouldn't be one on hand for miles -- somehow, this guy has a habit of showing up anyway.]

[stirsthewaters]

No. They don't. [There's a low rumble somewhere off at the edge of hearing. Maybe thunder, maybe artillery or engines. Hard to tell just yet.]

Oh, that You would rend the Heavens, Lord, and come down.

[werewolf_hacker]

Be a blessin' if He did. I'm tired-a dyin' by inches. An' watchin' my friends die. And I know this ain't no pleasure trip for you neither. Hump the Alliance anyhow. [The tears are tracking through the mud and blood on his face. He doesn't even realize they're falling.]

[stirsthewaters]

[Raphael sighs and reaches out to run a hand over Ben's matted hair.] Someday. Someday.

[It's the promise he's been clinging to for a very long and bloody eternity, thus far. And some days, that promise seems worn very thin indeed.]

[werewolf_hacker]

[Ben takes what little comfort he can from the touch and the promise.] Even so, Lord, come quickly.

Please.

[He swallows hard.] And if'n You don't, well. Give us the strength to endure this without shatterin'. Shatterin' more.

[stirsthewaters]

Amen and amen. [Raphael sighs deeply as the thunder rolls again and the rain starts falling. He shakes out a wing and spreads it out over Ben.]

[werewolf_hacker]

[Ben makes a noise down in his throat. The simple, kind act of the sheltering wing is enough to make him break down completely, and he buries his dirty face in his filthy arms and just cries his sorrow and heartbreak out to his God and Father. How. How can he endure this. Again.]

[stirsthewaters]

[And Raphael can offer no other comfort but this -- a sheltering wing and close company and someone to cling to Ben's hand as he weeps. Somewhere along the way the angel starts crying as well, turning his face up so that the rain will mask his tears.]

[werewolf_hacker]

[And it helps. Ben's not strong enough to cling like death to that hand, but he clutches it as hard as he's able. Eventually, he cries himself out, too exhausted to even weep anymore. This war, at least, is over. Maybe he can have a life again, if the purplebellies don't decide to "detain" him. It's a eventuality he lives in terror of, fear of it coiling around his heart like a rattlesnake and shaking its tail amongst his lungs.

It's not a fear he wants to burden his brother with, however, and as he quiets, he makes a sort of slithering hitch and wraps his arm around Raph's waist.] Love you, Raph. We'll get through this too.

[stirsthewaters]

[Raphael draws his wing close around Ben, returning the somewhat awkward embrace.]

We endure, Benjamin. What else can we do, but wait and hope and endure?

[werewolf_hacker]

[Ben nods against him. Even after all this time, no one wants to hear his singing voice, but he can hum in tune.] The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they... [He gets a little halting here.] ...stumbled and fell.
Though an host should encamp against me, my heart... [He swallows.] ...shall not fear: though war... should rise against me, in this will I be... confident...?

[guriel]

One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.

[Guri's caked in mud from head to foot; he looks like he's wearing it as a shell, so thick the rain has only begun to touch it. He kneels down on the opposite side of Ben from Raphael, wrapping an arm around his shoulders.]

Hey, di di.

[werewolf_hacker]

Guri. [The word comes out as a choked gasp, and Ben feels his emotions welling up again as he buries his head in Guri's stomach.] You all right, ge ge? Stupid question. You're here. Everything else is just details.

[guriel]

I'll fight another day. So'll you. [Guri gives Raphael a significant Look and reaches out to clasp his shoulder, pouring out Grace.] Probably better to get off this rock before the purplebellies start taking prisoners.

[werewolf_hacker]

[Ben nods against him, swallowing hard.] Lost my cane somewhere. Ain't got other weapons nor clothes neither. Just my coat. An' everyone in my unit's dead.

Again. [How. How can he bear this.]

[guriel]

[Guriel gathers him up gently and holds him like he weighs nothing.] I'll carry you, di di.

[It's an answer to more than just what's been said aloud.]