Edgerunner DxD: Chapter 2

Bishop 2

Asia didn't know how much time had passed, but soon she stirred once more. Slowly, her eyes opened to the decaying ruins of a once proud church and her heart sank. Breathing in the cold, damp and moldy air of the abandoned building, she felt ice fill her veins as she found herself in the altar once more.

With her heart thundering in her chest, she tried to pull away, only to find her limbs shackled and her form bound by the cold iron. "H-help!" She cried out as she struggled against her bond, but they would hold firm. As desperation started to set in, tears started to cloud her eyes "Somebody, anybody!" She begged weakly. "Issei!" she shouted, but no one would answer,

There would be no one there for her, no family, no friends, not even those that tormented her were there for her. She was totally and utterly alone. "Please, god, help me. I can't do this again," She sobbed openly, yet even the warmth of his light would no longer answer her.

She cried, tears freely falling down her cheeks as she hung there, helpless utterly alone. As despair filled her heart, hope once again lit inside her chest as she heard a familiar voice echo out from the darkness. "Asia, oh my dear child," the soothing voice of the head abbess called out to her.

"Oh thank god," Asia cried, thanking the lord for his mercy before she called out, "Please, Mother Superior, help me!" She had never felt so thankful to God until now, yet her hope would be dashed at the words that would come out of her beloved mentor's mouth.

"Do you know why you're here?" she heard them asked, making Asia stop dead in her tracks. "It's because you're a terrible girl," Their voice cut through the silence, stabbing straight into her heart and shattering it into tiny pieces.

"God, no, please, no, not you too," She sobbed as her tears flowed freely. Nothing could have hurt her more than hearing the woman that raised her and mentored her say those words. She was just doing her best…she just wanted God to be happy.

"You are unworthy of his love!" The angry booming voice of the cardinal echoed in the room as she found herself in the church back in the motherland. Confusion would soon give way to terror as she gazed up to the cold, judging look of the Cardinal as judgement was rendered upon her. "After what you did, how dare you show your face in a house of worship!" He snarled out as his hands whipped out, making her cry out in pain.

"N-no, please," She sobbed as she held her face. Scurrying towards their retreating form, she tried to explain, "I didn't mean to." Her words however would be drowned out as the angry cries of the bishops and priest filled the room.

"You are a traitor to mankind," They spat out as Asia curled in the cold unforgiving floor of the cathedral. "You are a traitor to God's light!" they screamed as Asia pressed her forehead down on the ground and begged for mercy.

"Please, please forgive me!" She sobbed as she reached up to their robes and held on to them. "I didn't mean to do it!" She shouted only to freeze up as she stared into those hauntingly beautiful eyes of the blue haired youth she healed.

"But you healed me, didn't you, Asia," They replied as a warm smile stretched across their face. "You used your gifts to heal me…" The devil whispered before their smile turned cruel and they laughed as they faded away, "Sinner!"

Pulling away, Asia screamed as she clutched her head. As the shadows loomed upon her, she heard their curses upon her. "No, please stop!" She shouted, trying to drown out their words. This was a dream, she told herself, but her own words felt hollow as she weathered the storm.

It felt like she was going to go mad until she felt gentle hands cupping her cheeks. As she looked up, despair turned into terror as she stared back into the Fallen's cruel smile. "Awww, you've been a very naughty girl Asia," She purred, stroking her hair as pressed her hands against his chest. "Don't worry though, all will be forgiven as God intended," She promised before Asia knew pain.

Looking down, she choked on blood as her hand's buried themselves deep inside her chest. "We just have to take one little thing and it'll all be over!" She whispered ever so softly as she started pulling, tearing her still beating heart out, before she started laughing, "I hope you're ready~"

With a cry, Asia bolted out of her bed, screaming as she felt for her chest through her unfamiliar clothes. The hole, it wasn't there, she… she was alive. Wiping away at her tears, she looked around and found herself in a strange hovel.

"W-where am I?" Asia whispered as she pulled the oppressively thin blanket over her form. Her clothes felt baggy and itchy, while the air was cold, bone-chillingly so. She… she remembered being out there in a strange city where she was chased by terrible people. Surely it was just a dream right?

As she tried to figure out where she was, her eyes trailed out to the windows and she felt all thoughts melt away. "It wasn't a dream…" She whispered as she stared out to the pillar of light reaching up to the heavens in the middle of this futuristic city.

Pressing her hands on the window as rain fell from the heavens. So lost was she in her thoughts that she didn't notice the person entering her room. "Oh you're awake," She heard a feminine voice called out, making her nearly jump out of her skin.

With blood rushing in her ears, she whirled around and grabbed the nearest object she could. "S-stay away!" She screamed, making the woman pause, eyes wide. For a moment, Asia stared back in confusion until her vision focused on the object she held; The cold iron grip of a gun.

Her hold fell limp as a look of horror washed over her face. Dropping the gun, she pushed away, holding herself close as she babbled, "N-no, no, I didn't mean to. I, I-!" She wasn't a bad girl, she didn't mean to.

As she curled up, sobbing, she heard the woman's calm and soothing voice command her, "Ok, let's pause for a bit and take deep breaths." Looking up at her, she found the muscular woman holding up her hands appeasingly as she gazed at her in worry. With a shaky nod, she took deep breaths, calming her racing heart.

"Good, now I'm going to get close and take the gun away, is that ok?" The woman asked as she slowly approached. Clutching her legs close to her chest, Asia watched the woman take the gun away, before setting it far away, far enough that neither of them could grab it as she came back. Sitting down on the edge of her bed, the woman asked, "Are you ok?"

"I-I don't want to hurt anyone," She choked out as she furiously rubbed at the tears running down her cheeks, but they just wouldn't stop. She didn't mean it, she was just so afraid.

"I know," The woman replied as a soft and easy going smile stretched across her lip. "Besides, you look too much of a good girl to hurt a fly," She replied as she grinned at him. "You're a good girl, right?" They asked and Asia felt the dam break.

Crying out openly, she launched herself at the woman. Holding on to them like her life depended on it, she cried, letting her emotions loose. "Woah there, easy," They told her, but she just couldn't take it anymore. She just needed someone, anyone to hold on to.

"I'm sorry," She cried as her body shook. "I'm so sorry," She begged for their forgiveness as well as those that she had wronged. She had been a terrible girl.

As she cried, she felt the woman slowly wrap her arms around her smaller form. Feeling their cold, rough, yet gentle hands against her back as the older woman stroked her hair, she felt her heart slowly ease up. "Everything's going to be alright, I promise," the woman whispered and for the second time in this new world, Asia felt that everything was going to be ok.

-x-x-x-

It took a while, but eventually, Asia finally got herself under control. After some talks, she soon found out that this was the apartment of the giant that saved her. Clothed by their partners' clothes, and served hot food, Asia couldn't put into words just how thankful she was, mostly because she had her mouth full, "Shank shu!"

The texture of the meat was off putting, the noodles soggy, and the broth was more salty than meaty, but for Asia, it was a meal fit for God himself. She must have looked silly as the woman looked at her in amusement. "You feeling better hun?" She asked as Asia slurped down the last of the noodles.

Wiping her mouth, she nodded, "Y-yes." She couldn't help herself, she was just hungry. Already, her stomach was complaining. Staring at the pile of disposable cups she had demolished, she asked absentmindedly, "I-Is this hell?" Catching herself, quickly apologized, but the woman only laughed.

"That's certainly one way to describe Night City, but no," She chuckled before shaking her head. Grabbing another cup for her, she asked, "More soup?"

Blushing, she nodded, "Thank you." She gazed down on her lap as the woman called out, "Oy, Maine. The girl's still hungry." She felt her cheeks burn as she sat there. She was normally never this ravenous, but it felt like she hadn't eaten in a while. Given that she had taken a bite out of anything since she got here, it shouldn't be too much of a surprise.

Gazing out to the city and the over cast overhead, she asked, "N-Night City?" What a strange name. It did look like it was always dark, but maybe that was just because today was a stormy one? Where is this place?

She nearly jolted from her seat as the man that saved her, Maine as she had come to know, placed another cup in front of her. The man was all wrapped up from his injuries, but he didn't look like he was hurting. "Awfully hungry aren't cha?" He teased before chuckling as he joined the woman. "Don't worry though, just eat up so you can get back on your feet sooner.

Nodding, she dug in once more, slurping up noodles and nearly choking as she did. As she coughed, the woman chuckled, "Easy there. There's more where that came from." Clearing her throat, she nodded as she ate just a bit slower.

Getting her fill and finally feeling full, she asked, "Is this somewhere in America?" It was a small miracle that she still remembered her English lessons. Knowing how to speak multiple languages was a necessity for those gifted by god, and English was simply one of the most widely spoken ones.

Frowning, the woman replied, "Yeah?" Shifting on her seat and leaning closer, the woman asked, "Do… Do you know where you are?"

Feeling suddenly small under the woman's scrutinizing gaze, she replied, "N-no?" She never even heard of a city like this before. Given how flying cars seems to be the norm, she should have at least heard about it in the Vatican. "I've been to Boston before if that helps?" She added with a shrug.

She yelped as she felt the woman reach out and started inspecting her scalp. "You sure she didn't hit her head," She asked as Asia sat there in confusion.

"I've told you a dozen times Dorio," The man replied, pinching the bridge of his nose while Dorio fussed over her. "I just found her all lost and terrified. Passed out before I could even ask her," He explained and Asia nodded in confirmation.

"She looks healthy enough to me," He argued before he withered under his partner's glare. "But just give me a minute, I'll see if we could drop by a local ripper doc to check her up," He added with a nod as he got up.

"Oh, no, I-I'm fine, really," She replied as she got up and twirled around, letting them see that she could still stand straight. "See? B-but thanks for the concerns. I truly am," She replied as she slowly sat back down.

For a moment, the woman looked at her in concern, before she sighed. "If you're sure," She whispered before frowning as she told her, "But we're taking you the moment, you pass out, ok?"

She nodded, feeling a smile stretched across her face. Looking up at both of them, they might look more like thugs with their clothes and muscle bound figures, but they were nice people. She was glad that she got to meet them especially in these uncertain times. She… she didn't know where she was or had anyone else she could turn to.

Noticing her gaze, Maine reached up for his face before asking, "What, is there something in my face?" Covering his bandaged eye, he assured her, "I know it ain't pretty right now, but just wait till I get these off."

Asia blushed as she raised her hand and waved it in front of her. "N-No! It's just you look like you're from the movies,"She answered as she gazed at the lines on their faces. It was as if they were made of metal. "I-Is that make up?" She asked, tracing the lines she saw against her own cheeks.

"Hear that, Dorio? I'm a movie star!" The man laughed as the woman rolled her eyes, though if Asia looked closely, she'd the ghost of a smile grazed their lips. Shaking his head, her savior answered, "But no, that's just where wires for my chrome are." He replied, pulling up a bandage to show circuitry underneath.

"Chrome?" She asked as she looked in wonder. "Are you a robot?" She added as she looked up at him in awe and wonder. She wasn't just saved by a man, but a robot? Perhaps she had been thrown in the future… but that would be silly, right?

"Come on now, you're just pulling my leg here," Maine replied as he looked back at her, before frowning. "Wait, wait, wait," He raised his hands before grabbing his arms and flexing, making them transform before her eyes. "You're telling me you don't know what these are?" He asked as Asia slowly shook her head.

"They l-look cool, yes," She whispered before answering, "B-but no?" The more she learns about this place, the more it confuses her. What had she gotten herself into?

"No shit, you serious?" He asked once more and once more, she nodded. Reaching up, she covered his lips as he gazed out and frowned, contemplating on what she had just said. Was it really that strange that she knew nothing about these fantastical Chromes? If she didn't know any better, she might have mistaken them for Sacred Gears.

"Ain't this getting more and more interesting," Dorio muttered as she got up and paced around.

Nodding, Dorio flexed and pulled the cannon back into his arms only for his face to twist in pain as a mechanical whined echoed out in the room as he clutched his arm, "Oh fucking, god damn thing caught again," He hissed, cradling his arms as he let out a litany of curses, "God damn, I need to get this shit checked."

Gazing down on his arms, she winced as she saw it repeatedly contract, yet unable to close properly. "I told you to go easy on the chrome," Dorio scolded them as she rushed to his man before pulling out a screw driver.

As she watched the woman poked their man's arm for a bit, Asia raised her hands. "C-can I help?" She offered. She wasn't sure if her gifts could help as there was metal, gears and whatever manners of circuitry in their flesh, but they were still their bodies, right?

"Look, I appreciate the concern, but let's worry about you first, ok?" Maine gritted out as sweat dripped down his forehead, but the pain proved to be too much. "Fucking, fuck," He cursed as Dorio motioned her over.

"It can't hurt to try," Dorio replied as she handed the end of the screwdriver to her but Asia refused. She had her own tools for this operation.

"I-I can do this," She whispered as she checked the sight of injury. As foreign as their bodies were and as limited as her own training was on medicine, they were still human flesh in the end, just melded with machines. Feeling the muscle and seeing things through the cracks, she found the culprit. One of the gears had caught on flesh.

While she can't deal with the machinery, she could deal with flesh. Pressing her hands on the afflicted area, she prayed, "P-please god, help me." As she closed her eyes and opened up her heart for her lord, she felt his light once more.

It came out almost like a flood, blinding her with its brilliance, but this time she was prepared. Tempering it, letting her heart guide it as she pushed it to the Man's noble soul, she let the light touch them and make them whole.

As soon as it came, it was over and Asia felt faint once more. She nearly toppled over and if not for Dorio catching her, she might have just hit herself on the head. "T-thank you," she whispered as she felt the bone deep weariness inside her. It was strange that the sacred gear went wild. It was as if it was too eager and wild, almost as she had just discovered it once more. Why?

Shaking her head, such thoughts had to wait as she turned to her patient. As the man held up his hands, she saw their eyes lit up in amazement as he shifted his arms, smoothly and seamlessly. For a moment, he looked satisfied before he frowned as he reached up for his eyes patch. Pulling it down, he blinked before he looked back to her in bewilderment. "H-how?"

She smiled back as she answered him the same way she told those she had healed, "I-I prayed to god." As she tried to get up, her legs fell out under her. Leaning into Dorio's hold, she whispered, "S-so tired…" Maybe she should ease up on the healing for now.

As the man pulled his bandages to reveal unharmed flesh, he whispered, "Just what in the world are you?" Even Dorio had that same look, the one she had grown all too familiar with dealing with miracles.

"I'm just someone who wants to help," She answered. It was only right that she helped them given how they helped her in turn, right?

A/N:

Sorry, got distracted. Different ideas are flowing and I'm taking the most out of what my muse is throwing. Really going down to Warboss now.