Everyone in the council room stared at the orb and watched as the final preparations for extermination were coming along at Hazbin Hotel. The intensity after what happened remained with most of the city recovering from the damage and the citizens embracing their new perspective that even holiness can be used for the worst reasons.
Speaking of the citizens….
"Sera." Gabriel spoke with a warm smile to get her attention. "The people are surrounding the spire for you. They are waiting to hear word of what happens with Noctis, and they are not letting Adam in."
"They aren't?" She asked.
He shook his head while the remainder of the council guided the halls filled with as many of the citizens that came to watch the orb.
"No. They are here to protect you."
She gasped at such loyalty and felt her heart tug while the center began to fill with her people, some giving waves and nods and others leaving small gestures of their love and loyalty at her seat. They presented gifts of all kinds mainly for her and gathered to watch as the orb showed Noctis training with Carmilla in combat through dancing.
She almost cried but held it in with a hard blink of her eyes while Emily swooped down from the hole in the spire that was still under repairs.
"Look at all the gifts!" She landed excitedly with a gift basket and handed it to her sister.
"I see that." She said warmly, taking the basket and turning to the people that were looking up to her.
Gratitude was something she had not felt so deeply in a very long time and it made her fly down to speak with her people who didn't take their eyes off her for even a second.
When she landed she was touched by some of the children with hugs to her legs, her robes ruffled out of their perfection but she didn't care when this was the love she foolishly denied herself by letting Adam keep her in a state of fear.
"We are with you." One of Angel declared, smiling at her.
Sera quivered as she looked to each of her people nodding in agreement and ultimately fell to her knees embracing these angelic children around her legs. She hugged as many as she could in her arms and wings with reminder of the warmth a child could give.
It replayed her most fond memories of Romna and drew out the tears, a sob of joy that escaped her breath whilst feeling more hands from her people touch her when they circled her like a barrier.
"Thank you," she cried and looked up. "To all of you for not throwing me away."
"It's starting." Gabriel announced just as the orb glowed to life.
Everyone turned their attention to the orb and watched as it started to play what was going on at Hazbin Hotel.
At the front of Hazbin Hotel the cannibals were gathered and being overlooked by Rosie with Charlie and Vaggie watching as the nervousness of their situation grew. Even as she fed a frozen meat stick with Max in her arms there was still uncertainty in Charlie's thoughts.
Still she tried to stay positive for Vaggie, and for Noctis when he landed with a flap of his wings after a long night of practicing magic from his book.
"I wish my mom was here to see this." She admitted with a sigh, holding onto the best smile she could muster.
"The cannibals seem ready to fight." Vaggie pointed out, pausing with her own thoughts for a moment as she touched Charlie on her shoulder. "Are we?"
"Yeah I think we are." Noctis said with a hint of confidence.
"What makes you so sure?" Charlie asked, watching him glow lightly from his magic.
He only smiled and turned to both of his mates.
"Because we've come too far to lose now."
Both girls smiled at those words and nodded in agreement whilst taking his hands, turning together to watch the army prepare their weapons for tomorrow.
"Yeah we have." Vaggie admitted, looking back to the hotel and thinking the last month of torment they went through. "We've come way too far for Adam to beat us now."
"And we have a little help as well?" Noctis glanced over to Blitz and his crew prepping their new weapons.
Carmilla was so kind to bring what troops she had left for the upcoming fight and give another round of ammunition and guns for the helluva gang, only this time doubling the amount provided and speaking firmly about each and every gun she particularly enhanced and kept locked away for the use of killing angels. She stood there with the primordial sleeping in her arm and glared at the four demons that were going over their preference of weapons.
Loona stopped what she was doing which was tormenting Moxxie per usual about his shotgun preference and looked over to them. Normal encounters such as this had an expectancy of understanding the danger they would be in and offer some friendly gesture.
That wasn't the case though with Loona. No, she looked right at Noctis and grinned before licking her flees hungrily with a wink.
Charlie and Vaggie glared with a deep possessiveness, the former commenting with disapproval. "That girl has serious issues."
The hotel doors then burst open to reveal a victorian out style Pentious slithering out in full confidence of himself. He addressed the group while Charlie sparkled with adoration of his showing.
"Fear not damsels. I shall have the staff ready for victorious combat!"
Vaggie was not in the least bit impressed as Noctis eyed him up and down.
"What in the hell are you supposed to be?"
Pentious posed and saluted with a riding crop in hand, answering like a soldier himself.
"General Pentious reporting for duty. I'll turn those rapscallions into soldiers in no time at all."
"Thank you, Pen." Charlie said kindly.
"Hold up." Noctis stopped this display with his own touch on the snake demon's shoulder. "I have something to say."
"Yes your majesty?" Pentious saluted again, his formality making the young man go dry with annoyance.
"Don't do that." Noctis coughed to clear his throat and squeezed Pentious on his shoulder. "I never got to say thank you for what you did back at the goetia palace"
"It was nothing." Pentious tried to brush it off but Noctis wasn't having it.
"No, it is something." He said firmly and continued with a softer expression that showed gratitude. "You threw yourself into harms way to protect me when I was unconscious. You could have ran away but you dove onto my body and protected me."
"But of course I did. That's what friends do." Pentious exclaimed proudly.
"Yeah." He suddenly hugged the demon tightly and whispered. "You're more human than any demon I know."
Words could not express what felt Pentious felt from such gratitude. His breath hitched at the contact, feeling an overwhelming warmth as he had a pretty good idea on how to return it.
He hugged Noctis and whispered, "Thank you my friend."
"Babe you're doing it again." Vaggie pointed out to her princess fanning her eyes and whimpering.
"I can't help it." Charlie whined before both boys separated and laughed.
In that moment they laughed at Charlie while Nifty looked up curiously to them, seeing as the princess pouted at her emotional tendencies.
"What can I do?" She asked.
"I'm glad you asked soldier." Pentious said more than eagerly to guide her. "The Base needs fortifications, re-enforce the southern wall, create a moat around the perimeter to stop a ground assault!"
Niffty blinked at this, looking confused on all this.
Vaggie then spoke up dryly with no amusement to his naive thinking. "I do not think a moat is necessary, as the Exorcists can FLY."
Pentious felt like someone burst his blimp and retreated a bit while Charlie knelt down, holding an angelic dagger out for the little maid.
"How about this, if you see an exorcist Angel approaching, stab it."
"Um Charlie, that's not a good idea." Noctis said in worry.
Niffty's eye lit up as she jumped for joy with the dagger in hand. But then stared at Angel Dust, as the words stab lit it up around him.
"Oh shit." Noctis muttered.
She then sped towards him with the Dagger in hand and intentions bearing ill…
"Hey hey hey!" Angel panicked and climbed up the nearest pole.
"Not him!" Charlie clarified quickly.
"Only angels wearing these." Noctis explained after he grabbed Nifty by the collar and showed her a picture of the Exorcist masks.
Niffty squinted at the pic, and then looked to Noctis.
"Okay!" She chippered and ran off to do god knows what.
Noctis shook his head mentioned, "We are giving are one-eyed mentally unstable and bloodthirsty psychopath a weapon that can kill anything".
He looked to Charlie, the lack of amusement evident.
"Why I get the feeling she's gonna be a hassle?"
He looked back to the spider demon and cocked his brow at how such grace was made in the perverted methods of landing on his feet.
"Were you a stripper before?"
"No, just some stuff I learned from Valentino." Angel Dust answered with sly smile and winked. "But for you I'll do it for free baby."
Noctis rolled his eyes playfully and shook his head while Angel Dust blew him a kiss.
Suddenly he was hugged from behind by a very enthusiastic sin that popped in from her own work back in the city. Without warning he was spun in place and kissed passionately by the only demon that had been blatantly making her place known in their farfetched relationship.
"Beezlebub?" Charlie and Vaggie said in surprise of the demoness as Noctis flailed his arms for freedom, feeling the tongue of the moaning sin slither into his throat.
"I'm here~" she sang after parting from his lips with a hungry lick.
"Why are you here?" Vaggie asked, while in the background there was Loona twitching with dangerous jealousy that she expressed by punching Moxxie.
Beezlebub feined offense with a dramatic hand to her chest but still held Noctis in her other arms while he wiped her saliva from his mouth.
"I'm The Queen of Gluttony baby, and my king is about to face off with the most powerful archangel." She said dramatically like it was some movie theater, her words creating no amusement.
"Your point?" Vaggie said dryly.
Beezlebub rolled her eyes and responded with the same courtesy as the fallen exorcist. Only she made herself very clear in the affection she gave Noctis with how she made sure to press his head into her breasts.
"My point is I'm not going to sit in my place and just wait for word if he lives or dies again."
"You're gonna help?" Charlie asked and lit up with her hands clasped together in hope.
Beezlebub nodded and flicked Charlie lightly on the forehead, making her whine.
"Duh creampuff. I'm not gonna let my hubby fight this war on his own." She gave the annoyed Charlie a cocky smirk and added, "And besides, I plan on a celebratory fucking with my man after this is over."
"T.M.I." Vaggie said flatly.
"Agreed." Noctis had the attitude for the sin that tightened her hold on him.
She enjoyed how much her perverted antics made Noctis uncomfortable, just like when he was Romna.
"Oh but we never got to finish at the palace." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "And I plan on finishing after this."
Noctis blushed at her implication, knowing exactly what she meant before he was snatched away by Clara and Odette who were ordered by Carmilla.
"Girls?" He yelped as they dragged him over to the overlord.
"Come brother." They ordered in unison. "You are to be dressed."
Noctis knew what it meant to be dressed in the Carmine family but he still tilted his head.
"Dressed?"
"Yes darling." Carmilla nodded as both girls started undressing him embarrassingly in front of everyone. "You need to be fitted."
"Hey stop!" Noctis yelled and covered himself with his wings, but it was too late with his boxers being what remained.
"I got 50 buck!" Angel Dust held it up and wolf-whistled.
Carmilla rolled her eyes and snapped her wings, ordering her daughters to pull his wings apart and forcefully dress him in clothes that were handmade.
Within a minute they both embarrased and dressed Noctis fashionably for tomorrow but may have scarred him emotionally about the cannibal army and his friends seeing him mostly nude. When they finished they stepped back Carmilla to see Noctis fit and ready in the art of her perspective, his body branded with a black and silver sleeveless vest, plain black pants, boots that rode up to his knees and a two-tail trench coat with two serpents running down the sleeves.
All of which matched the aesthetic of her outfit.
"There now." She praised in her own way with a proud smile a touch of the "C" on the right shoulder. "Now you wear the Carmine name fittingly."
"You could have done this in private!" He exclaimed, blushing like crazy still from having his body shown off briefly.
At that point Noctis went into a rant with his laughing mother and sisters eh Charlie and everyone did some last minute training of their to be prepared. Group by group Charlie passed and watched with a forced smile but deep down held in her fear of what tomorrow may bring.
She knew tomorrow was do or die for all of them and it only worsened when she saw Max and the primordial being tended to. Hellhounds or not, these were not part of the family, these were her babies as much as they were to Noctis and Vaggie.
She clutched a hand to where her heart is and sighed to control her emotions she diverted her focus to the loudly crude Helluva Gang.
At that moment Blitz was polishing his flintlock pistol, and noticed the princess walking towards him.
"Hey, what's up, Princess?" He asked casually giving the finishing of a spitshine. "Got some shit on your brain?"
Charlie knew about his nonchalant talking and shook her head before speaking sincerely.
"No... I just wanted to thank you guys for protecting Noctis and protecting the hotel."
Blitz just shrugged at her gratitude.
"Yeah well we can't exactly do what we normally do which is hide in our office and flip off every angelic cock sucker that passes. That feathered bitch is bringing his army to wipe us all out so we might as well get off our asses and do what we do best."
"Quite the gathering you have all made." a voice, laced with elegance and mystery drifted in from around surprisingly intimate in its proximity. "I see I was wise to leave Noctis in your care, Princess Morningstar."
Charlie and Blitz paused on their conversation, their gazes shifting downwards to their own shadows cast by the evening light.
To their surprise, they spotted a third shadow lingering ominously between them, darker and more undefined than their own.
"Her?" Charlie questioned quietly.
Intrigued, they looked back to the person who made it, their hearts pounding with a mix of curiosity and trepidation.
The figure was indeed cloaked, but it was a familiarity for Charlie when she saw those purple eyes bore into her.
"Natasha?" She said questioningly.
The cloaked woman only smiled and nodded but such friendliness was not with Blitz as he pointed both guns at the figure.
Charlie panicked on the spot and slid in between her and Blitz while his crew noticed and did the same thing.
"Guys wait. She's the one who brought Noctis to me!"
"Huh?" Blitz and his gang said in unison as the entire crowd saw the figure and got defensive.
Noctis popped up next to Charlie as he readied his power.
"What the hell is going on?!"
"Noctis," Charlie said gently and pointed to the woman. "Your aunt is here."
Noctis froze at those words and slowly looked over his shoulder to the cloaked woman reaching up to her cowl.
"Don't try it!" Blitz barked this order in assumption of hostility while the others gathered around.
Charlie looked at him and got in his line of sight.
"Blitz stop. She's not gonna hurt anyone!"
The helluva gang wasn't as convinced as Charlie and her friends. They didn't know this person and with every angel they have encountered they've been met with nothing but death and aggression.
It was natural for them to just respond with weapons, especially Loona who bolted to Noctis and curled herself protectively around him.
As the tension grew about this mysterious woman and her motive, Noctis took slow steps forward with Loona apprehensively following with her protective instincts still on high.
"Hello Noctis." She smiled warmly in the darkness of her cloak before her hands grasped the cowl fully.
Slowly she removed said cowl, and when her face was revealed she created a deadly silence that made those aware of her existence gawk in recognition of her ancient presence. The overlords present bowed to her knowing the history of her holiness and Beezlebub even gasped with swelling emotions she truly believed to have buried so deep they would be completely dead.
There was no doubt to them that this Natasha was the former High Seraphim, and she was still as elegantly beautiful as before. Her dark skin was completely flawless and those purple eyes spoke millenia after millenia of wisdom only she could acquired.
In their eyes she was still a goddess and she removed all doubt of being gone forever after disappearing so long ago.
"Natasha…." Beezlebub quivered with memory of this angel that gave her love and care like a mother.
Natasha turned barely to the sin and beamed that smile at that demoness, igniting so many feelings.
"Hello Beezlebub." She spoke so light and gently it was like hell and it's negativity didn't exist at all, just her voice calming the storm before tomorrow.
"You." Noctis was mildly skeptical but not above giving this woman a chance. "You're my aunt?"
"Mother who is this?" Odette asked quietly, seeing her mother remain on one knee with her head down.
"Natasha Suphrim," Carmilla answered with her hair draped over her face, hiding the fear that she expressed. "She was the original High Seraphim and the one who helped god create The Garden."
Clara and Odette said nothing but the slow widening of their eyes gave enough indication that they were not just in the presence of an angel but a being closest to being a god that helped create the very garden that started everything.
Charlie looked back long enough to see the overlords present, even Alastor himself, bowing to this woman and keeping his tongue still from any remark or sarcasm he could offer. What made her worry and understand though was that someone as powerful as him wasn't just being silent but also shaking with fear.
"Charlie, bow down." Vaggie ordered quietly, mimicking the overlords.
Charlie was flabbergasted at this point but listened completely to Vaggie. She took a knee and bowed her head at this godlike angel who focused her attention back on Noctis.
"You have grown so much, nephew." Natasha stated so sweetly, eyeing the man up and down. "You've grown into some of your power."
"Some?" Noctis questioned before gasping at her suddenly now standing inches from him.
Loona took that unseeable movement not too kindly and raised her hackles for a moment before it dawned to her that her body refused to attack. Her instincts dulled and the malice in her body became quiet, as if she was brought to peace without realizing it.
Noctis didn't know where to start with this woman, he had so many questions that needed answered but his mouth would move anymore when she leaned down and cupped her hand to his cheek.
"How tall is this bitch?" Angel Dust whispered to Husk, who shushed him harshly.
"Dad who is that?" Octavia asked as she looked over the balcony of the room she was given.
Her father's silence carried a dangerous weight when she looked over to find him looking down as well and completely terrified at the presence below them. His body was actually shaking and crackling with magic from his lack of control.
"Dad?" She touched Stolas on his arm.
He snapped out of his fear induced trance and grabbed Octavia firmly on her shoulders, his gaze both deep and wide with years of wisdom as a prince that knew his place in the pecking order of Heaven's hierarchy.
"Octavia I need you listen carefully." He warned her.
She flinched but nodded quickly after as he looked down again and then right back at her.
"I thought the Natasha part was just a lie but now I'm certain it's not."
"Okay?" She drawled with a cocked eyebrow.
He took in a deep breath and said as calmly as possible, " Darling, it would be in your best interest to maintain this friendship you have with Noctis."
That didn't make any sense to the young princess.
"I don't understand."
"Let me be clear," he took in a breath. "That woman is power itself. She helped god create The Garden of Eden, and what's worse is she was once the high seraphim but she stepped down."
He pulled Octavia closer, reeking an ominous tone in his voice.
"Whatever you do, do not cross her. That woman is so powerful she would make Lucifer afraid."
"What?" She gasped, gazing back down to the angel.
"You've grown so much." Natasha praise lightly and caressed Noctis, ignoring how Loona was fighting her own body to move.
That one touch was unlike anything he had felt, not even the Speaker of God herself carrying a calmness. He leaned into this touch and closed his eyes with the weight of his life becoming lighter than air. He breathed peacefully for the first time in weeks and embraced this powerful feeling she gave.
"I have so many questions."
She nodded, her smile being broken a little by her own thoughts.
"I know you do, but I have so little time being here."
The moment her hand started to part, Noctis leaned harder on it until the peace he felt was completely gone from the parting of her touch. He craved it, he needed to feel his stress wash away again for a few more moments.
To his dismay he was denied when she took a step back. What he didn't know was that she needed it as well.
"Why are you here?" He asked, almost cracking his voice from the emotions that came back.
Natasha sighed at that question and wore her cowl again, hiding the pain in her eyes.
"To show you the last piece of your connection."
"Huh?" Everyone said in unison, watching this ancient angel undo her hands from the sleeves.
Strangely though the present overlords took notice of very thin and almost unnoticeable threads of light wrapped around her fingers before she started to wave her golden aura.
Nobody knew what Natasha was doing but she was clear in her goal when she cast an image into their minds and shared the most sacred of memories in her heart with her own determination.
But most of all she wanted him to see the one love he was missing in his life.
"What are you doing?" Noctis stepped back worriedly as the world around them was taken away and swallowed in her magic, consuming everyone but the cannibals and behind the overlords.
Charlie and Vaggie were quick to join Loona in protecting Noctis but it was for nothing when the magic around them swirled and took them away to memory. They were taken together, everyone Noctis knew and cared about, even Blitz and his gang, to a heaven young in its creation with one single angel standing at the foot of the gates with his arms crossed while Saint Peter was guiding many to build the entrance.
"Michael?"
Noctis questioned and looked to Natasha for this confusing matter, but her hand pressed gently to the back of his head in silence and guided him to watch more.
"Hello…." A young Romna squeaked and looked up to the coldly stiff archangel, tilting his head curiously.
Michael responded with nothing, he just stared into the cosmos below their realm and crossed his arms while Natasha made her appearance by walking up to the man.
"Always so stoic." She chuckled playfully, watching her nephew just look back to the empty realm and then back at the archangel.
"Is he broken auntie?" Romna asked, making the slightest twitch of annoyance come from the archangel.
His response didn't escape the future high seraphim. She smirked mischievously as her nephew used his wings to float up and meet the archangel eye to eye, knowing if anyone could crack the shell of heavens strongest angel it would be him.
"Are you angry?" Romna asked innocently, unaware of the vein bulging on the angel's head.
"No." Michael finally answered but very coldly to the boy.
"Then why are you looking mad?"
Michael could feel his annoyance swelling at the child and his curiosity, but for the sake of his well-being he chose to talk rather than potentially invoke the wrath of Natasha when she was infamous for her maternal-like methods of dealing a firm hand.
"I am not mad. I am simply guarding the gates while heaven is being finished in his build."
"Why?" Romna asked.
"Because the creation of the universe is young and there is no telling what may lurk."
"Why?"
He grunted at that but answered through a strained voice.
"Because, my lord, the universe is the art of our Heavenly Father. And all things come with balance between light and dark. And it is my job to keep out the dark."
"Michael how long have you stood here?" Natasha asked out of pure suspicion.
"Three days my lady." He said curtly.
Natasha feigned shock at his answer and pressed a dramatic hand to her chest, but she was all too aware of the archangel being as vigilant as he can be.
"Do you ever sleep?" She asked with faux innocence, eyeing her nephew for his concern.
"No." Michael grunted, his posture hardening under the light of their paradise. "I never sleep. I always watch. That is my duty to the Heavenly Father."
"Such devotion." She played admiration quite well.
"Never ever?" Romna asked innocently.
Michael shook his head.
The gears were already turning in Natasha's favor when her little nephew glared up to Michael briefly before he took the strongest stance his little body could make. He got right in front of the archangel and crossed his arms, puffing out his little chest and spreading his wings.
"What are you doing little lord?" Michael asked curtly.
"Watching for you." Romna answered before he stumbled from the weight of his wings and regained himself. "You need rest so I will watch the gates."
Michael cocked an eyebrow at that statement, but underneath his scrutiny came what was too rare to miss out—a smile.
Though it was small and almost unnoticeable, Natasha giggled quietly and leaned into the archangel with a whisper to his ear.
"You may not be his father but you are one of the few who create make him."
Michael grimaced at those words and resumed his position, but an underlying distraction of Romna did make him think back to the creation. He hated to admit it, but the part of Romna he helped make was definitely there and it reminded him of himself.
"Deny it all you want," Natasha whispered some more and stroked his arm. "But his passion is your passion. You made his mind, and that is what makes you attached whether you believe it or not."
"I am not his father." Michael growled quietly.
Natasha only giggled in his ear and said too quietly.
"Not by blood. But your heart pulls to him."
"What?" Noctis gasped before the memory was cast away, leaving not just him but his loved ones in complete shock.
"Now you understand." Natasha said gently.
Nobody believed what they just witnessed though the truth was impossible to change when memories are unbreakable. Everyone, even Alastor, was silenced by this revelation and honestly a little uncertain of just how powerful Noctis could be.
Carmilla though was the first to collect herself, and like any protective mother she made her presence known by confronting the angel for this possibly false statement.
"Is that true?" The overlord asked defensively. "Is Michael his father!?"
"Not by blood." Natasha clarified, which gave Charlie a lot of relief. "But Michael was one of the angels that helped create Romna."
"Explain." Carmilla demanded bravely as she tossed aside all matter of respect and fear for the angel.
"Mom calm down." Noctis said and touched her shoulder, but he was brushed off and faced with the anger of his overlord mother who was already at her wits end of protectiveness.
"I will not calm down when there are more secrets to be revealed about your past life that could be crucial to your growth."
Noctis recoiled at her fierce gaze and stepped back with the girls as Natasha tried to deviate things to herself.
"Please, let's all calm down. I will explain."
"You better." Carmilla warned, glaring back over her shoulder.
Natasha had expected the overlord to be protective but she didn't expect it to be a dangerous kind. Still, she remained calm and collected while her explanation came.
"Sera did make him from a star, but she couldn't do it alone. To create someone you need a soul, a mind, a voice, and a body." She paused long enough for everyone to soak in that information. "Sera made the soul, I made the voice, but Michael... he made the mind to mimic certain traits about himself."
"And the body?" Carmilla asked, not wanting to miss a detail.
Natasha grimaced and told her firmly, "That angel is one I won't speak of. She is a traitor amongst our kind and more hated than even Lucifer."
"Hated more than my dad?" Charlie asked.
"Hold the fuck up!" Blitz shouted and moved to the ancient angel.
"Yes?" Natasha looked down at the critically staring imp.
He gestured to Noctis and expressed the situation his own way.
"You're telling us this feathery plump ass fucktard was made by four of you assholes!?"
Everyone flinched at his provocative language and braced for a potentially devestating response from Natasha, but she surprised them with a smile and a giggle.
"Yes he was." She kneeled down to the imp. "It takes a lot of power to create life of that caliber."
"Why?" Blitz barked.
"Because I love my sister and she wanted a child of her own. The rest of his fate was made on his own."
"Is that why Michael keeps crying?" Vaggie asked Natasha out of the blue, receiving a soft nod after she stood back up.
"Yes, he is in immense pain knowing he can't stop himself from harming the one he considers a son."
"So all this time..." Charlie didn't have the energy to finish that sentence as it all made sense now. "Even when he stabbed Noctis….."
Natasha only nodded and turned herself to Noctis, watching the truth unfold completely in a mix of disbelief and anger.
"Guess he's not bastard after all." Angel whispered to Husk, who quickly slapped the back of his head.
Noctis couldn't shake this feeling off and he didn't want to let his emotions run wild again with his control still lacking. So he took as many deep breaths he needed and hoped for a better outcome.
"So him and I…."
Natasha shook her head with begrudging truth in her voice.
"Michael never openly considered you a son, but he always watched afar. The day you were slain was the moment his heart broke completely after banishing Lucifer."
"So he's in pain because of me!?" He exclaimed.
Natasha nodded as she understood perfectly well what he was thinking. Fortunately for Noctis it was a matter of grasping the situation when she cupped his face.
"Yes but it is not your fault. He is trapped within himself and desperate to break free and tell you how sorry he is."
"But it's my fault and—" he shushed at the press of her finger to his lips.
"No. It isn't." She interrupted firmly. "Adam is the one at fault. Adam is the cause of everyone's pain, and it is your duty to protect Heaven and Hell."
Noctis believed that but at the same time he was still feeling at fault for everything. His self-blame was stopped though with gentle kiss to his forehead before she stepped back.
"I must leave again."
"What?" He gasped, his confusion much like the rest of his loved ones. "Why?"
Natasha wanted to tell him why but she better than to disrupt his upcoming battle with more of the truth. The threads on her fingers pulled ever so slightly as she stepped back and opened a portal into the same darkness she came from.
"All in good time, my nephew." She started to leave as he reached out, but the girls held him back. "But understand you will be facing evils beyond heaven and hell."
"Wait!" Noctis tried to break free but didn't have the heart to use his strength to break free from his girls.
The portal engulfed Natasha, consuming her entirety in the darkness and closing up with only some answers that didn't outweigh the mystery of his previous and current life.
His expression changed from awkward confusion to concern as he looked back to everyone seeing him in a new light.
"So you're Michael's magical non-bastard?" Angel Dust asked, earning another smack to the back of his head by Husk.
He didn't know what to say with so much conflict in his heart now.
"Four angels?" Carmilla paced with her arms crossed. "But Sera was the one to carry you."
"It kind of makes sense." Vaggie said with her own thought about.
"And how would it make sense?" Carmilla asked rudely, wondering if it was a real thought or just a pathetic attempt to ground Noctis.
Vaggie rolled her eyes and explained, "Well when Noctis fought Lyoria, or when Alastor pissed him off, his entire behavior changes."
"Yeah it does." Charlie pondered that for a moment and looked to Noctis. "Do you feel anything when you change?"
Noctis nodded to her.
"Yeah I feel angry but at the same time I don't feel any fear. Just this weird certainty that I need to do act fast."
"What about being afraid of hurting or killing someone?" Vaggie asked.
Noctis shook his head, completely ignoring the clinginess of Loona and her instincts making her comfort him.
Vaggie's affirmative thinking was without doubt now, she knew exactly what Michael made of Noctis' mind.
"He made part of your mind like his." She stated firmly, confusing everyone before she pushed a finger to his head and explained. "He made it so in combat you are just like him, fit and ready to do what is needed to protect others even if it meant killing."
"But why make him similar?"
Everyone pondered that but it was Nifty who had the weirdest answer come to mind.
"Maybe he's tired?"
"Tired?" Everybody questioned in unison.
She nodded vigorously. "Yeah, that weird memory showed Michael doesn't rest. So maybe he was—"
"Wanting a successor." Vaggie gasped.
It made more sense to the groups than any other truth they had come across. Still there was a lot of skepticism to be had about Michael wanting to have a successor or that he wanted to rest.
"You good shithead?" Blitz asked out of the blue, earning a smack from Millie.
Noctis didn't respond at all and it became concerning when he just stared distantly, thinking to himself about this dark truth.
"Let's just all get back to training." Vaggie interrupted with nobody wanting to disagree.
The cannibals scattered back around the hotel to resume their training with the angelic weapons, but the Hazbin and Helluva gangs watched as Noctis walked away to process.
Charlie was the first to reach out, even take a step toward him to offer comfort, but Vaggie held her back and shook her head.
"He needs to figure this out."
Charlie wanted to believe her, but right now her heart wasn't into Noctis being able to figure out his life when he looked so confused and broken by what Natasha revealed to him.
Oddly enough though there was one demon that pitied the man so deeply that he grunted in annoyance of his own callous nature before going inside.
"Where you going?" Angel Dust asked the annoyed Husk.
He responded with curt empathy.
"I need a fucking drink."
Meanwhile the aftermath of this showing in heaven was nothing to be taken lightly when everyone had seen on the orb what just happened with Noctis and the entire hotel gang. Everyone who understood Natasha for who she was had been left speechless at her short-timed presence.
But the one who was most affected…..
"Sera?" Emily touched her sister on her arm and gasped when the response was terrible.
After biting her lip so hard that she bled, Sera collapsed from mental shock and laid over the edge of her seat in the council room, unresponsive and terrifying everyone.
"Sister!" Emily began to cry and shook her fellow seraphim gently. "SISTER!"
"She fainted!" Jophiel yelled and flew down to check.
"Somebody get a cold rag and water now!" One of the council members screamed in the chaos before rushing with others to help.
————————————————————
The evening had come slowly for everyone, the grand but not-so convincing speech of Charlie and the big fight tomorrow, the gathering of drinks and one big party for all the friends and cannibals celebrating tonight as if it were their last day to exist.
Noctis was alone though when he stayed on the roof all evening and just stared out to the city with the weight of his existence now heavier than ever. The realm seemed to feel so much bigger now that he knew his life was made so intricately by so many hands.
It was like looking into his existence and understanding so little again….
He sighed and dropped his wings over the edge as a familiar presence took a seat next to him and laid an extra glass of whiskey.
"Missing all the fun." Husk said solemnly and poured a drink to offer.
Noctis merely nodded but kept his gaze on the city.
"I imagine your brain is now fucked more than normal." Husk said needlessly and offered the glass.
"Can it get any worse?" Noctis asked questioningly and took the glass, sipping on the very strong red liquid with a bitter expression.
"Careful. That's my best stuff." Husk chuckled tiredly as the party echoed up the floors.
"Damn that's strong." Noctis grunted and swigged the rest.
"Obsidian widow rum." Husk poured more for the man. "Don't tell Angel. He loves this shit."
"Why are you up here?" Noctis asked curiously.
Husk chuckled and shook his head until he felt it necessary to stare at Pentagram City with Noctis, sharing a drink with him.
"Times like these, a kid like you needs a bartender to keep company."
"That's above your pay grade." Noctis pointed out.
Husk knew that all too well, and laughed a little.
"Kid you've been way above my pay grade since the day your ass was tossed at Charlie's feet."
Noctis chuckled with Husk for that, and held it a little bit longer before the two stopped with wary expressions.
"You scared?" Husk asked.
"Of tomorrow, now." Noctis answered truthfully. "What scares me is that I want to kill Adam."
Husk nodded and with a short hum to that confession and poured another glass after they swigged in unison.
"You're scared of yourself because now you know the parts of you that are meant for battle are similar to Michael."
"Yeah." Noctis breathed defeatedly. "Makes me wonder if anything about me is my own."
Husk shook his head and pat Noctis on his shoulder to get his attention, seeing the uncertainty in the eyes of not a man but a boy that never had a man-to-man talk.
"Look kid, no matter how they made you, who you are is your own because you spent your life making yourself. Everything about you is from your own growth."
He gestured back to the neon sign of the hotel.
"All this, you did this. You made repairs. You figured out yourself. You went from some snot-nosed shit that ran from demons to this man with godlike power."
"Not that it matters." Noctis scoffed.
"Oh it does." Husk disagreed and pat the man in his shoulder again. "Because you built your life here before you were found to be not human. Your mated to Charlie and Vaggie, married to Beezlebub, got a hellhound latched to you, and you have two pups that need you. You built your family."
"Family….." Noctis tasted that word and remembered how sweet it was to have his own, earning a smirk and a nod from the cat demon that gave another pour.
"Yeah kid, a family." Husk nodded and gestured to the city with a wave of his hand. "So what if you got this shithole and heaven to protect, you're still a friend, a father, a lover, and our handyman. Divine Beast or not, you are still a pain in the ass we busted our asses to keep safe."
Noctis didn't know anything better than to touch his glass to Husk's and smile.
"You know something—" he playfully nudged the demon with his elbow and chuckled. "You'd make a hell of a dad."
Before Husk could say anything to protest to that statement or so much as scoff at the idea, Noctis laughed and scooted far enough from getting hit.
"I could see you and Angel now." Noctis laughed some more as his friend growled. "Little bit of magic and you two having—"
"Go fuck yourself." Husk sneered and tried to whack Noctis, but that damn teleportation had him at a disadvantage.
"Well you two are close…. Maybe more than normal." the teasing man said with a wink.
Husk narrowed his eyes as he said with a smirk. "And this coming from the powerbottom of Charlie and Vaggie."
Noctis froze and arched an eyebrow at this, expressing serious annoyance but impressed nevertheless by that witty comeback from his smug friend.
"Touché my friend."
Husk shrugged, knowing he won that banter and said proudly, "Got a lot to learn about being a smartass, kid."
"Yeah. Yeah." Noctis said uncaringly and sat back down with him to have another drink. "But seriously, you'd make a good dad."
"Sure. Tell yourself that." Husk chuckled in disbelief, but as a friend he went along with it and handed the glass back. "Now drink up because this might be our last night of being us."
Noctis frowned at his pessimism of the battle tomorrow for a few seconds but then looked up to the heavenly realm in Hell's sky and smiled. He reminisced everything about his new life in hell—from the first time he punched a demon to fighting a godlike angel that wants him dead.
"No Husk, it's not our last day."
Husk blinked at Noctis and raised an eyebrow before they shared the same stare to heaven.
"Think you can save us all?"
Noctis frowned again and swigged the remainder of his glass before gesturing for another, thinking long and hard about how terrible tomorrow would be for everyone.
"No I don't, but I'm gonna give every damn ounce of power I have to put Adam down and save Michael."
"Cool. Cool." Husk said cooly, nodding so subtley it was off-character before he asked the big question that made him do this in the first place.
He looked to Noctis and grinned, but it wasn't for any amusement or joy for the obliviously getting drunk Noctis by him.
"So why are you so scared of tomorrow?"
Noctis flinched at that question and set his now empty glass, just for the bartending demon to refill it. He had no idea what Husk was doing but the intention was carefully hidden behind that somber smirk and gritty voice that was abnormally gentle as he handed the glass back.
"Tomorrow?" Noctis scoffed amusedly, his speech slurred just a tad before he sipped the drink this. "I'm not scared of tomorrow."
"Sure you're not." Husk said smoothly, watching him intently. "So your shaky hands are just excitement?"
Noctis was taken-aback by the criminal observation of the demon and looked down to find there was no hiding it. His hands were shaking so hard in his lap the allost melted ice was jingling. He tried to tighten his muscles to control it but the evidence was too far obvious to hide now.
Still…..
"Whatever." Noctis set the glass down and stood up to walk away. "I'm scared of myself. That's it."
"Hold on kid." Husk took this by amusement and grabbed Noctis by his hand with a firm grip.
Noctis looked back to the demon and glared until they were face to face.
"What?"
"You think I can't see through you?" Husk asked amusedly.
"Oh don't try that shit with me Hudk. You may have Angel figured out but I'm not some dude that drowns his feelings like him."
"No you're not." Husk remained eerily calm and released the man, just to poke a finger to his chest. "You're a kid that's been thrusted into a life that most would crumble under. And now you stand here acting tough but the truth is you are scared shitless about tomorrow because deep down you're terrified that we will all die if you fail."
Noctis didn't know how to counter that. He felt so strongly for everyone and backed into a corner by the bartender still pushing his buttons even when he tried to back away.
Husk wouldn't give him space though.
"Stop it Husk!"
"Stop what!?" Husk raised his voice, making Noctis flinch. "You can't bullshit me kid. I've been in this game since before you were a crying little fuck in diapers. Just like Angel I can see through you more clear than a clear glass!"
Noctis grunted at Husk suddenly shoving him against the neon sign structure, trapped against the metal as he was yelled at finally.
"You can't hide it from me. You're fucking scared of us getting because you fail or die trying to save us. Well newsflash kid, everybody is scared but we're open about it!"
"Shut up!" Noctis barked with clenched fists.
"No!" Husk shoved him again. "Because I can see that fear is eating your ass alive. It's been eating you ever since you woke up from your coma and fought Lyoria!"
"You don't know me!"
"Yes I fucking know you!" Husk screamed at this point. "I've been watching you since the day you were dumped at Charlie's feet, watching you go from this sniveling little pissant that was scared of us to the man I see in front of me that's gonna change both realms."
Noctis protested or at least tried to but was completely cornered when Husk grabbed his shirt and yanked him down to eye level and jab him repeatedly in the chest. He narrowed his eyes and started to let the fear anger show as he looked right into fellow hotel member. Said demon noticed this straight away and pushed him to his breaking point.
"You can hide it all you want behind the power and the titles but I see right through it. You are a scared shitless boy thrusted into so many responsibilities it's got your head spinning. So go ahead and keep hiding behind your idea of being tough because kid there is nothing tougher than life and it's been kicking you around since the day you got here."
Noctis' demeanor shattered as he snarled, a primal instinct that had taken over. He shoved Husk back with surprising control of his true strength, his fear now out in the open for anyone by the tears that rushed out.
"Yes I am scared dammit…..I am fucking terrified…..THAT I MIGHT FAIL AND LOSE ALL OF YOU!" He replied furiously
Husk didn't react after stumbling from the shove. He stood there and watched as the alcohol finally cracked the man to his breaking point and listened with a neutral expression.
"EVERYBODY IS COUNTING ON ME!" Noctis yelled and punched the frame of the hotel's neon sign, absolutely unhinged of his self-restraint for needing to be strong. "ALL I KEEP DOING IS FUCK THINGS UP. FIRST I GOT STABBED, THEN MOIRA SACRIFICED HERSELF, AND NOW I HAVE TO GRASP THE FACT THAT BY PARTICIPATION, NOT BY BLOOD, THAT HE IS AS CLOSE TO A FATHER I HAVE!"
He punched the metal again and screamed for all it was worth with Husk watching intently as he broke down into sobs.
"HOW MANY MORE SECRETS ARE THERE ABOUT ME!? HOW MANY PEOPLE MUST SUFFER BECAUSE OF ADAM!? HOW CAN I BEAT HIM WHEN I STILL BELIEVE IM JUST HUMAN!?"
He spun around to find Husk only inches from him with a hand firmly pressed to his shoulder. He tried to back away but hit the frame and was again trapped.
Husk glared right into him, straight into that despair in those uncertain eyes.
"Maybe you are still human."
Noctis froze, disbelieving that the same bartender that puts others down with their insecurities was actually agreeing.
"How can you say that when—"
"Dumbass, being what you are doesn't dictate who you are." Husk interrupted and gripped his shoulder. "Now shut up and listen kid."
Husk hardened himself, expression and heart as he spoke with sober in his voice, even inspiring for the teary-eyed man that wasn't sure of himself.
"You have so much potential in you that you can't even see it. Look at how far you've come from being that scared whiny bitch to this godlike being. You fought an ancient angel, you caused a rebellion in heaven and went toe-to-toe with Michael."
"That was luck."
"That was not luck. That was you!" Husk argued and continued. "You have Adam scared without a doubt because for the first time in his existence you've destroyed everything he built."
He patted Noctis hard on his chest. "Not because of your power, but because in here the real you that I've seen is screaming to protect others!"
"I'm just…." Noctis didn't have the heart to finish his counter.
"What, just human!?" Husk shouted again. "Good, then stay human. Stay human on the inside because maybe that is what we all need—someone who isn't for either side but stands for his morals!"
Noctis finally allowed his tears to fall before he rested his head on Husk's shoulder, who was mildly surprised that such vulnerability was there. He looked around to make sure nobody had heard or him or watched before pushing Noctis back up. He couldn't let others see this, not when it would ruin his reputation.
"Now you need to get back downstairs. Everyone is looking up to you—" he took out a rag to dry Noctis' tears and flicked his chin. "Now chin up, sober up, and stand like you own the place."
"Yes sir." Noctis nodded and took a breath.
A few minutes later…..
"Hey. Hey. Hey. There he is!" Angel Dust whooped with a raised glass. "The man who's gonna save heaven and hell!"
The entire crowd was deep in their drinking and having a damn good time to celebrate, but his cheering diverted their attention to Noctis and Husk coming down the stairs.
What they didn't know is the reason Noctis was smiling was thanks to Husk, but that would stay between them.
"Dude you are missing out!" Angel shouted, clearly a little tipsy while the entire hotel cheered for Noctis and raised their glasses. "Charlie and Vaggie came back downstairs after their little pow-wow and drank beezlejuice by mistake."
"Uh oh…." Noctis and Husk muttered, ignoring Angel Dust guffawing out of his seat.
"Quite the show she is putting on." Rosie commented while sitting between Alastor and Carmilla, both of which were silently annoyed at how Charlie was acting.
"Let him figure this out." Alastor muttered.
"Agreed." Carmilla nodded and took out a magazine to ignore the situation.
Noctis dread the idea of both of his mates being drunk and slowly turned after stepping down to find them not alone in the matter. Beezlebub was just as drunk if not more and using her powers to produce more beezlejuice while Loona defied her screaming father by guzzling mug after mug of the honeysweet concoction.
"Put that down right now young lady!"
"Fuck you, Blitz. I'm getting drunk and fucked tonight!"
"Should we intervene?" Millie asked Moxxie, only to find whom was just as hammered and on the floor with such love for her.
"Millie," he sang warmly and adored her smile. "I wrote a song about you in my head."
"Uh…..Husk….." Noctis drawled fearfully when he saw how the girls turned their attention to him.
"Mi Amor…." Vaggie hiccuped before falling forward off the couch, stumbling with her wings dragging on the floor. "Oh….who put that floor there….."
"You're fucked." Husk commented and slid out of view to go back to his bar.
Noctis knew he was right and tried to make himself inconspicuous by hiding in the crowd of cannibals.
"There's our man!" Charlie slurred loudly as she shook her glass uncontrollably.
"Angel why didn't you stop them!?" Noctis yelled before Beezlebub drunkenly teleported to his side and latched on.
"Dad…." Octavia looked to her father with hope in her eyes in joining.
To her dismay she was denied the the excuse of extermination day happening tomorrow. Stolas was quick to shake his head and hand a glass of juice he was lucky to find earlier in the kitchen.
"Absolutely not. After this little gathering we are going home."
"But dad we could die tomorrow." She griped pitifully.
"I said no!" He enunciated, making her pour away from the chaos.
"Baby…." Beezlebub whined in Noctis' ear as he tried to help her stand. "I wanna go upstairs and makeup for back at the palace."
"What!?" He shouted and turned a new shade of red, remembering that moment back in the goetia bath before it was interrupted by Loona.
"Yes…" she cried crocodile tears and clung to his chest. "I need my king bee to take me upstairs and—"
"Oh hell no!" Loona snapped and threw her bottle on the ground. "Not this time bitch!"
"Loona!" Noctis was shocked by the sudden aggression and watched with Beezlebub as she stumbled over with Blitz trying to stop her.
Sadly for him the hellhound was quick to do her signature punch and send him across the floor while Charlie and Vaggie followed not too far behind.
Noctis tried to back away before it got out of hand but he was firmly planted by the sin losing her footing and latching onto his leg as she grinned with challenge for the drunken Loona.
He looked down and then back at Loona before she thrusted a hand wildly and luckily hit her mark grabbing onto his vest.
"Not this time." She repeated with a snarl.
Noctis looked around for any help and realized not a soul was getting up to stop this. By coming back down from the roof he had trapped himself between four very drunk demons with the same intentions while the other demons were more controlled with tipsy behavior and a chorus of snickers.
"Husk?" He laughed nervously, looking to the bartender as sweat started to fall from how Loona was shoving cannibals aside left and right.
He was nowhere to be found.
Said man watched as everyone pretended to not see what was going on and looked back only to find the hellhound mere inches from him with her fist clenching his shirt.
"Now Loona—"
"Shut the fuck up." She panted heavily, weeks of need pouring out of her body.
Noctis reached up to take her hand off and hopefully calm her down while Charlie and Vaggie fell to the floor at his feet and propped themselves against his legs and Beezlebub. However he found himself trapped when Loona used her other hand to squeeze his face and quickly shove her tongue inside.
"Thatta girl!" Angel adust praises and wolf-whistled at the shocking scene.
Loona couldn't do it, she couldn't restrain herself from the idea of Beezlebub winning one over her again. The first time so humiliating when it was Vortex and now she would not miss her chance when her body…..no her instincts were roaring to make Noctis her alpha.
Noctis' eyes widened in shock as he found himself trapped in this kiss by Charlie, Vaggie and Beezlebub actually rooting for it in their drunken manner as they weighed his legs down. Loona had put her grip on his wrist and gave him a mix of growls and whimpers that could only be swallowed, kissing the man and holding him in place with the girls.
Noctis felt his wings come undone and try to flap for freedom but it was quickly erased from his thoughts when Loona pulled her alcohol taste away from his lips and buried herself right into the crook of his neck with soft nuzzling and possessive growls.
"You're not getting away." She whispered.
"No he isn't." Charlie slurred with a mischievous smile.
Noctis had no idea what the princess meant until she snapped her fingers very strongly with the help of her magic taking them all to the bedroom.
The party was gone with the last memorable scene being Angel Dust guffawing on the floor and Blitz being held back by Millie. Now he was on the bed they share and four demons sharing the same devious motive underneath their intoxicated smiles.
"Girls?" He gulped nervously.
"Mine." Loona snarled and pounced on the spot.
Noctis panicked and made a quick dodge by leaping off the bed but was tackled by the other three and pinned to the floor with Beezlebub being the first to straddle his form.
"Hold him…..down...girls….." she hiccuped a few bubbles of her concoction while Charlie and Vaggie gripped his arms. "Momma is not getting denied again."
"Hang on. Let's talk about this!" Noctis thrashed and struggled but was too cowardly to use his strength, worrying he might hurt someone if he forced them.
Loona recovered with a blubbering shake of her head after hitting the bedrest and lunged dangerously at the sin.
"I get first dibs bitch!"
All he could was scream…..
Meanwhile back downstairs, a duo of laughter rang out in the lobby between Husk and Angel as they picked up the sounds of all four women getting ready to have the night of their lives while Noctis screamed fearfully.
"He's gonna be so fucked." Angel laughed while getting a drink from Husk, who was chuckling a little more calmly.
"Yeah that kid is gonna wake up sore."
"By the way…" Angel Dust drawled playfully, leaning over the counter. "What were and Noct doing up on the roof?"
"That's a private matter." Husk responded curtly before they both heard Noctis screaming about not having his clothes removed.
Carmilla was surprisingly calm through the whole ordeal even when Alastor covered his and left in a little whisp of his shadow. Truth be told she was rather fond of the suffering her son had to endure before the big battle tomorrow that would ultimately decide the fate of Heaven and Hell.
"You're surprisingly calm after today's events." Rosie commented with a sip of her tea, her eyes never leaving her army that was starting to pass out one by one from too much Beezlejuice.
"Tomorrow is a big day." Carmilla said smoothly and smirked as they both heard Noctis scream (Charlie get your tail out of my ass!) "He can enjoy himself a little before tomorrow."
"Very mature of you." Rosie nodded with a hint of respect before they heard him scream again, (Loona, Bee, stop spreading me!")
"You okay Blitz?" Millie asked sweetly after restraining her boss to a chair with rope.
The only response she got from the wife-eyed imp was foaming snarls and the occasional repitition of him declaring how he would strangle Noctis with his own dick.
Millie knew this was hard for him, but Loona needed her own freedom and the ability to make choices she wanted.
"It'll be okay." She patted Blitz on his back before they heard Loona moan.