Frank slowed his pace once they were fully immersed inside the cave, waiting for his eyes to adjust to the gloom. It wasn't completely dark, Frank could make out Gerard's figure with ease, but he couldn't see much beyond a few feet, and he was reluctant to keep walking until he knew what lay ahead of them.

The air around them was thick and muggy, and although Frank had been freezing not two minutes ago, he could already feel his hair beginning to stick to his neck with sweat. Pressing closer to Gerard's frame, Frank stopped moving completely. When he extended his senses, he became aware that the area around them was larger than it appeared, but he still had no idea if the floor was free of pitfalls or not.

"Please tell me you know what to do now?" Frank chuckled weakly, ignoring the damp quality of his palm which was still clutching Gerard's hand tightly.

"We go forward I think. That odd feeling is still pulling at me," Gerard murmured softly, his voice echoing oddly until it seemed as if the repeated syllables were raining down around them.

"Lead the way," Frank gestured, shifting his position so that Gerard was in front now instead of Frank. He could still faintly feel the sensation Gerard was talking about, and it got stronger when he was touching him, but he would rather rely on Gerard in this since he seemed to have a much better connection to whatever was leading them.

"What do you think is waiting for us?" Gerard asked as he took a careful step forward, shifting his feet slowly as he went. Frank stuck behind him like a second shadow, occasionally bumping into him when Gerard stopped sooner than Frank expected him too.

"I honestly don't know, but it can't be that bad - right?" Frank shrugged, although Gerard couldn't see it.

"I hope so," Gerard sighed, falling silent after that so he could save his concentration for navigating around the dimly lit room.

Frank prayed that his words wouldn't prove to be false, but he had faith in Michael. He couldn't imagine that the archangel would have purposely put them in danger, and if Billie Joe was correct and he and Gerard were the ones spoken of in the prophecy, they should have no trouble retrieving the sword in theory.

"Is it getting brighter in here, or is that just me?" Gerard spoke up after a long period of nothing besides their breathing breaking up the still air, snapping Frank out of his thoughts and back to the situation at hand.

"No - it is," Frank agreed, his neck craning back and forth as he registered the fact that there was indeed a light source coming from somewhere. The cave was still littered with dark patches, but it was becoming clearer by the second, allowing them to increase the speed of their forward motion by a fair margin.

The scenery was nothing special, in fact, it looked exactly like Frank would think a mountain cavern would. The ground they walked upon was made of dull gray stone interspersed with small cracks every few feet. The ceiling was dripping with stalactites, some so low that Frank began to get worried that Gerard was going to hit his head at a few points, but Gerard managed to avoid the few sharp points that came close without ever once looking up.

Frank peered over his shoulder, trying to find the door they had entered through, but the small entrance was already hidden from view, leaving Frank to wonder if they had traveled a much further distance than he had previously thought, or maybe they had made a turn somewhere that Frank had missed, which would explain why he could no longer locate their only exit from this place.

"Frank - look," Gerard gasped in awe, bringing Frank's attention to the wall in front of them instead of their surroundings.

Frank's jaw dropped open once he took in what was before them, his hold on Gerard's hand tightening as he stared at what might have been the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.

Blocking their path was a barrier that appeared to be made almost completely of gemstones in every size, shape, and color imaginable. The growing brightness that they had noticed before seemed to be focused on the jewels, highlighting each facet and shade in an ethereal way that had Frank borderline dizzy from the sheer perfection of it all.

"It's gorgeous," Frank managed to spit out after staring at the collage for at least a minute, his brain trying its best to comprehend the dizzying array of shades that it had never been exposed to before, "but why is this here?"

"I don't know, but isn't it lovely?" Gerard cooed, the tips of his fingers delicately stroking the area closest to him.

"This must be worth a thousand fortunes."

"No wonder Michael didn't want anyone finding this place," Gerard chuckled weakly.

"Yeah," Frank responded routinely, but as beautiful as the gems were, he couldn't ignore the point of their quest. "Still - why are these here, and how do we get around them?" Frank gestured widely, because as far as he could tell, the barricade of gems extended to both sides of them.

"My internal compass is pulling me over there," Gerard motioned to the left, but he seemed reluctant to move just yet, and Frank wasn't surprised. Gerard had always had a certain fondness for shiny things, so this was probably a dream come true for him.

"Come on love, Brendon and Billie are waiting for us remember?" Frank prodded his husband, biting back his grin as Gerard shot him a sheepish look.

"Of course, um - this way."

Frank followed after Gerard instantly, choosing not to comment on the way Gerard's gaze never once left the glittering wall, because his hardly ever did either. It was difficult to look away from the shining prisms of colored light that were reflected off of the many stones, and Frank knew that if they didn't have more pressing matters at hand, he could easily have wasted countless hours simply observing them.

Gerard paused in front of a small gap in the gems which hadn't been noticeable before. The space was filled with curving writing, the style of which was similar to the script which had graced the original entrance, but this sentence was in English, which Frank was very thankful for since he couldn't read Elamite.

"Wonders surround you, but only one will unlock the way, remember the words and make your choice wisely," Frank recited the text aloud, turning to Gerard once he had finished with a puzzled look on his face. "Did it have to be a riddle?" Frank sighed loudly, "I'm shit at them."

"We both are, I mean - neither of us realized what the seventh prophecy was about until Billie Joe told you," Gerard groaned, his eyes skimming over the short phrase once more, "but wait - I think I might know this one."

"What does it mean?" Frank pressed eagerly, not wanting to draw this out for a moment longer than they had to.

"Well I could be wrong, but do you see this?" Gerard pointed to a small indent directly underneath the carved words, waiting for Frank's nod of approval before continuing. "I assume a gem is supposed to go there, we just have to pick the right one."

"How are we supposed to do that?" Frank groaned, his hopes of a quick in and out mission evaporating in a puff of smoke as he glanced over the numerous possibilities surrounding them. "There are thousands of stones here - maybe more."

"It says 'remember the words'..." Gerard repeated that phrase a few times before backing up slowly, his eyes searching the wall avidly while Frank waited patiently for his husband to explain what he was thinking. "Ah-ha," Gerard exclaimed happily, motioning for Frank to join him.

"What is it?" Frank asked once he had situated himself next to Gerard, not seeing anything unusual about the particular patch of gems Gerard had stopped in front of.

"Do you see this stone," Gerard gestured to the rock set into the wall which was level with their chest. "I noticed it before when we walked by, I thought it was odd how it had two tones to it when most of these seem to be primarily one color."

"Okay..." Frank drew out the one word, wracking his brain in an attempt to try and follow Gerard's logic, but he wasn't understanding the importance of the gem.

It did look a bit different than the others around it, Frank was aware of that now. At the top it was a dark shade, almost an obsidian color, but further down it began to transform into more of a golden sheen. The shape of the stone seemed like it might fit the hole underneath the script, but it was hard to tell if it was the correct one of not, and Frank was fearful of what would happen if they placed the wrong gem into the doorway.

"Well I could be totally off, but this whole cave was made to protect the sword from anyone besides for the two spoken about in the prophecy," Gerard murmured almost to himself, leaving Frank to strain his ears so he could catch what his husband was saying. "So if we follow that logic, the words are probably referring to part of the prophecy. I can't remember it all verbatim, but didn't one line say 'can darkness polish gold?'"

"Yeah it does," Frank smiled broadly, finally connecting the dots now that Gerard had laid them out for him. "It can't hurt to try it."

"But what if this isn't the right stone?" Gerard voiced Frank's earlier fears aloud, his hand hesitating over the gem as he waited for Frank's response.

"Well we don't have another option, and it would take weeks to look through the entire wall. Plus you seem to have a better sense about this place than I do, so if you think it's that one, then so do I."

"Okay..." Gerard sighed sharply before snagging the stone between the tips of his claws which he had just extended, tugging harshly until the gem came away from the granite surrounding it. Gerard clutched the small object in his palm tightly, doubling back toward the blank space as Frank trailed behind him. "Here goes nothing," Gerard grimaced as he placed the gem into the small indentation, and much to Frank's relief, it appeared to be a perfect fit.

"So -" Frank was cut off by a loud rumbling noise, the sound startling him so much he practically climbed up Gerard's back in an effort to get closer to him.

"What's going on?" Gerard whimpered when the spotlight that had been illuminating the expanse of gems was suddenly cut off, plunging them into a pitch black darkness that had Frank even more on edge than he already was.

"I don't know," Frank yelled back, having to raise his voice to be heard over the incessant screeching caused by the shifting rocks, and although Frank could no longer see, he assumed that the barrier in front of them was opening up in a similar fashion to the way that the original entrance had done when Frank and Gerard had pressed their wings against it. "Can you feel if the wall is still blocking our way?" Frank asked once things had quieted down again, the cave had stopped shaking at least, but their light source hadn't returned.

"I don't think so," Gerard answered, "I can move forward at least, and I feel a breeze coming from in front of us."

"Which way is your internal compass telling you to go?"

"Straight ahead," Gerard whispered fearfully, and Frank had to swallow thickly before finding his voice. He was terrified of what was awaiting them in the unknown room, especially since his sight was taken from him, but they had no choice but to continue onward.

"It's going to okay Gerard, just remember, Michael wants us to succeed here, but we can't give up now." Frank wasn't sure if he was trying to reassure his husband or himself, but honestly, it was probably a little bit of both.

"Yeah, of course," Gerard responded weakly, and although Frank could feel Gerard trembling in his hold, he took a step deeper into the darkness, and then another until Frank was able to feel the aforementioned chill to the air that Gerard had noticed earlier.

Frank continued to strain his eyes as Gerard continued into the newly revealed space, but the area remained unlit, leaving Frank's imagination to run wild with possibilities about what they were walking into. Frank briefly considering suggesting that they fly until they reached another wall, but the stalactites he had noticed earlier could easily tear their wings to shreds if they weren't able to avoid them.

A loud scuffling sound that suddenly erupted throughout the quiet room had Frank biting back a curse as he instinctually clutched tighter to Gerard who had gone stiff and motionless. Frank froze as well, trying to ascertain if the noise was caused by one of them or if something else was occupying the space with them.

"What happened?" Frank spoke up when Gerard inched backward, his heavy breathing alarming Frank more and more with every passing second.

"Um - nothing, just...stay right behind me okay?" Gerard answered in a hushed tone of voice, his words emitting in a choked fashion that did nothing to soothe Frank's worries at all.

"Gee - tell me or I'm not moving," Frank protested. He would have crossed his arms for extra emphasis, but he didn't want to let go of his husband just yet, not to mention Gerard wouldn't be able to see the gesture even if he did do it.

"Okay...but you have to promise not to freak out."

"I'll do my best," Frank reassured Gerard, although he was starting to panic already.

"I think we are on a bridge of sorts, I just stepped over the edge right now, and uh - I am pretty sure there is a huge drop underneath us. I haven't heard the pebbles I accidently kicked off hit the bottom yet."

"Oh that's wonderful," Frank laughed sarcastically, using humor to mask the choking sensation that was currently enveloping him. "Well if we fall, we can always fly back up."

"If we can find the bridge again in the dark that is," Gerard pointed out, his logic going unappreciated by Frank who really didn't want to consider any more ways this could go wrong.

"Well let's make sure we stay on the path then."

"My sense of direction is getting stronger, so just stick close to me okay?" Gerard propositioned, and Frank was more than willing to do just that.

Frank wasn't sure how much time passed before Gerard breathed a sigh of relief and announced that they had bypassed the open space, but in his mind it seemed like hours filled with fearful anticipation. Frank kept waiting for his shoes to connect with nothing before he plunged over the side, or for Gerard to be ripped from his arms, leaving him lost and alone, but by some miracle, they had made it unscathed.

"I think we are almost there," Gerard exclaimed happily. All Frank could do was nod in relief, forgetting for the moment that they were still surrounded by the smothering blackness. "Whatever is tugging me forward is getting stronger, so that has to mean something."

"Good, I have had enough of this creepy cave for one lifetime." Frank finally remembered how to use his words again now that his heart was no longer in his throat, but Gerard was already tugging him along at a rapid pace.

Frank wasn't sure if Gerard's eyes were better adjusted to the darkness than his were, or if his internal compass was lending him a sixth sense that allowed him to make his way throughout the cavern without incident, but whatever the case was, Gerard safely navigated them to another wall that was thankfully spotlit just like the gems had been, and once again the surface was carved with a short line of script.

"The sword is at hand, but only two can claim it. Love is the key, now all you must do is prove it," Frank read out slowly, the tension in his shoulders quickly unwinding now that he could see again and their goal was so close to being reached.

"Oh my god - we should totally fuck right here. What better way to prove our love?" Gerard cackled gleefully, earning himself a soft punch to the arm from Frank as a response.

"I refuse to scratch my back all to hell on these rocks, and I'm pretty sure that isn't what Michael meant anyway," Frank scoffed affectionately, unable to hold back the soft giggle that slipped out when Gerard raised one eyebrow at him in that way he did when he was faced with a challenge.

"Oh come on - I'll let you ride me, and it would be totally worth the pain to be able to say we fucked in the secret cavern which holds the sword of Michael," Gerard smirked, leaving Frank to wonder if his husband was joking or not, but either way, he was not going to get naked and lie down amongst a bunch of sharp stones no matter how much Gerard pleaded.

"No you ass, but if you behave, we can fuck when we get back to Heaven."

"Fine, but I am holding you to that," Gerard pouted, which Frank chose to ignore as he examined the doorway more closely.

"I am pretty sure a kiss would work, but I don't see any indents on the wall like there was before," Frank murmured, running his hands over the space in an attempt to uncover a hidden carving, but there was nothing else there.

"Look here though," Gerard pointed, bringing Frank's attention to the floor instead of the door, "there are small holes in the ground, almost like footprints. Maybe we are supposed to stand on them and then kiss."

"Well what are we waiting for," Frank grinned, placing his shoes in the small dips that did seem to fit his feet perfectly, waiting for Gerard to do the same before lacing his hands around his husband's neck, letting their noses rub together for a moment before connecting their lips in a slow kiss.

Gerard hummed happily against his mouth, his eyelashes brushing Frank's cheeks gently as his lids closed and he leaned closer to Frank. Frank almost forgot where they were for a moment in favor of enjoying the wonderful feeling of Gerard's tongue licking at his bottom lip, but the sharp crack which preluded the doorway opening forced him to return to reality. With a reluctant groan, he pulled away from Gerard so he could watch what was hopefully the final barricade falling away.

The first thing that met Frank's eyes was a brilliance that almost blinded him after spending so long in the dimly light cave. Frank had to turn away for a moment to dispel the spots dancing across his vision, but when he was able to look again, he was met with a glorious sight.

It was what they had come for - Michael's sword was right in front of them. The weapon appeared exactly how it looked in the few drawings Frank had seen of it, but at the same time the primitive sketches had done a terrible job of capturing the beauty of it. The hilt was encrusted with multi-colored gems and golden wire which wrapped around the silver metal it was made of, the blade was sharp and clean, with no sign of rust or any other passage of time upon it. The piece was somehow suspended in mid-air although there was nothing visible that could explain how it was being held up, but Frank assumed it was some sort of old magic that he wouldn't understand even if he knew the cause of it.

"Go on," Gerard nudged Frank gently when he didn't immediately move, the subtle touch reminding Frank that he did indeed have to take the weapon so they could return to Brendon and Billie Joe as soon as possible.

Frank approached the sword slowly, a feeling of awe tinged with unworthiness swelling in his chest when his fingers made contact with the cool metal. Frank brought the object to his chest delicately, not wanting to damage the blade in anyway, although he was sure that he could throw it off a cliff and the weapon would remain in perfect condition. The angels of old were masters at their craft, and if the sword had survived this long without even a speck marring it, Frank doubted that any amount of clumsiness on his part would do any harm.

"I like how you look with that sword," Gerard commented as Frank made his way back to his husband's side. "It fits you somehow."

"Yeah?" Frank murmured, peering down at the weapon which did seem to be made for his hand, the hilt resting comfortably against his palm as he shifted it back and forth idly. "Well as long as it helps us defeat the Leviathan, that's all that matters in the end."

"It will," Gerard smiled reassuringly, reaching his hand out to touch the spot next to Frank's knuckles, but as soon his skin made contact with the metal, he hissed in pain, jerking backward sharply as he sucked the apparently burnt pads of his fingers into his mouth.

"Be careful love, angel weapons and demons don't mix well remember?" Frank chastised Gerard gently, moving the blade further away from his husband so he wouldn't be at risk of brushing against it.

"I just wanted to see what would happen," Gerard shrugged, placing one arm around Frank's waist instead as they began making the journey back to the entryway so they could rejoin their friends. "The Leviathan isn't going to know what hit him...or her - did Billie ever say its gender?"

"I honestly don't remember," Frank chuckled fondly, not at all surprised that Gerard was concerned with what pronouns to use on a mythical creature.

"I'll have to ask him," Gerard noted, his footsteps quickening as they neared the bridge they had passed over earlier, which was somehow now brightly lit even though it hadn't been that way before. "Come on sugar, I want to get back to Heaven. I have had enough of nature for one day."

"I'm going as fast as I can," Frank responded, clutching the sword a little further away from him so he could catch up to his husband, wishing that he had received a portion of the burst of energy that Gerard seemed to be imbued with.

But even though Gerard was ecstatic over the successful completion of their quest, Frank couldn't help but see it in a negative light. Yes - they had retrieved the sword of Michael, but now that meant they had to face the Leviathan that much sooner, and Frank didn't share Gerard's confidence in their abilities to be able to defeat the fearsome creature.

There was nothing he could do about his worries though, so Frank did his best to save them for a later date, concentrating instead on not dropping the sword and keeping Gerard in sight, pretending that his misgivings weren't eating away at him the entire time.

I finally managed to finish something - thank god.

I've been a bit out of commission lately, but I'm trying to get back into the swing of things.

Btw I apologize if this chapter was sort of shit. I'm terrible at writing any sort of action. I can ramble forever about emotions or character descriptions, but accurately showcasing events is so hard for me to do.

But they have the sword of Michael now, which means this book is getting close to being done. I think it probably has about ten chapters left if I had to guess, but depending on how things play out it might be a bit more or less.

Thank you guys as always for your patience, and I will try to be back soon with another update.

Chapter dedicated to alecisnotastalker

I'm a pain in women's clothes

<3 starr