Here Comes The Son (Ghost Band / Papa Emeritus fic)

I Hope You Guess My Name

It was a few minutes walk to the Religious and Occult Artefact and Antiquities Department and Swiss was feeling decidedly uncomfortable following Aurora's teasing reply to his comment about his desire to kiss her. His words were something that could easily be passed off as a simple phrase that meant nothing in particular but he had meant it. He had expected her to laugh it off, or roll her eyes. He had not expected her to say 'later'. It left him uncertain and awkward. Had she really meant it? Was it just a silly reply to what she believed a silly comment? He kept almost turning to her as they walked and Aurora knew it. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see him thinking - what he might say, how he might phrase it, how he would sound, how he would stand, and most of all - would she slap his face. Everything was going through his mind except the act itself. He almost didn't hear her when she called his name.

"Swiss?"
"Huh?" He barely managed a reply, his mind full of possibilities and concerns.

Placing a hand on his chest, Aurora stopped him in the middle of the corridor, pulled at his waistcoat so he stooped and planted a firm yet tender kiss on his lips. At first, his eyes widened in surprise, his arms hovering at his side, not knowing quite how to react. Her hand extended up his chest before gripping the back of his neck to deepen the kiss and instinctively, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close, breathing in her scent and as she parted her lips, exploring her with his tongue in her mouth. All too soon, Aurora broke the kiss, pulling back, with Swiss's lips following hers to try to maintain the heady bliss he already felt.

"Okay," she smiled. "Now you know I'm serious, and later really means later. Let's go check out poison rings, shall we?"
"Yes, ma'am!" Swiss almost saluted in his delight.
"Don't ever call me ma'am again!" She raised an eyebrow, her hands on her hips.
"My fiery princess?" Swiss offered a wide but soft smile at her.
"Better."
"I'm all yours."

She ran her hands down the toned muscles of his upper arms slowly through his cotton shirt, smiling appreciatively at the firmness of his body.

"I'm looking forward to it. Later. Now, we help Papa."

Swiss nodded eagerly; it was hard to know which he was more serious about.

*

When the light dimmed once more, Copia's eyes took a moment to adjust. Despite the unfamiliar location once again, this at least didn't feel quite so threatening. Even as the thought occurred to him, he realised that it was a matter of perspective. Looking to his right, he was relieved to see Phantom standing alongside him. Not that he particularly wanted Phantom to continue to suffer this somewhat nomadic nightmare that seemed to be taking them both on a guided tour of Heaven and Hell, but at least he knew he wasn't still in Heaven and his presence remained comforting.

He stood in a warm dark cavern, this time wearing a black suit. The walls and even the ceiling of the cavern overhead were predominantly black with deep red undertones. The deep crimson red appeared to be pulsing, occasionally flaring a bright scarlet, as if the walls were a barely solid lava flow. As he stood admiring it, he could almost hear the sound of crackling quartz as it melted in the heat somewhere beneath the surface. Moving towards the mouth of the cavern, he saw the area held a series of caverns of varying sizes in a giant ring that stretched unfathomably far and at least as far as he could see in the limited light. In the centre, deep below, he could see an orgy was taking place, bodies writhing in carnal bliss, a haze of scented smoke obscured some of the scene and he could smell the overabundance of wine even from his position high above.

While pondering whether or not to wander down to join the revelling masses - it had, after all been some time since he last enjoyed a good orgy - Copia heard a noise behind him. Someone was running. Turning, ready to protect himself, his eyes widened in pure delight.