We are each our own devil, and we make this world our hell. -Oscar Wilde
Ward stood in the hospital chapel leaning on a stone wall next to a cross shaped window careful to avoid the light. He'd been through a lot in recent months he remembered Coulson killing him and dying. He thought that was it but it wasn't next thing he knew he was in chains had burning red meat hooks digging into his skin and was surrounded by people he knew mostly SHIELD agents all suffering and begging for the end.
Ward soon realized that was what hell was begging for the end only to realize the end has already come and gone. Centuries passed in hell or as it was really known the Nether World. Ward had resigned himself to his fate. Then he woke up in a hospital with a new name Johnny Blaze.
For a while he was told his life as he thought it was, was just a delusion brought on by his coma that was a result of his injuries in a motor cycle accident. Ward's head was fuzzy and he was recovering from well everything so he went with it. Maybe part of him even wanted to believe the lie.
He soon learned it wasn't a total lie. Ward met his biological father Barton Blaze through his lawyer a man named Donald Blake. Barton offered Ward a job as a mechanic and they became close it wasn't long before Ward learned the truth he found all sorts of stuff on the occult in Barton's office. Barton was researching how to kill demons particularly one named Mephistopheles.
At first Ward thought Barton was crazy after all aliens and other dimensions were one thing but magic and demons that was another level. That was when he saw a group of guys attack a woman. Maybe it was the time he spent with Barton but he felt compelled to do something. He intervened and got his ass kicked almost died that was when he transformed into that thing.
He didn't waste time he confronted Barton and learned his bio dad had sold his soul to a demon named Mephistopheles. The Demon didn't just want a soul though it wanted Barton's son who inherited a peace of some magic soul amulet just like Naomi and all members of the Kale clan but Barton didn't know until it was too late so Barton and Naomi gave Ward up to another family the Wards and they did it under the table so no one would know.
That's why they were at this chapel to protect Barton who now was dying and was about to get a visit from Mephisto. There was a loop hole however if what Ward read was true Mephisto couldn't cross on to holy ground. If Barton died on holy ground and enough time passed for him to move on Mephisto would be out of a soul.
Needless to say Ward felt a swarm of emotions he thought he knew everything about himself he thought life was simple you were born you lived you died end of story. He had since, being killed by Coulson learned it wasn't so simple.
"How could you do it Barton?" He asked starting to cry a little bit.
"It wasn't like that John-" Barton then stopped himself from talking taking a minute to correct himself "I mean Grant. God how did…" He shook his head fight his tears. "how did it come to this? When your mother Naomi and I gave you up we… never thought."
"What I'd end up with a psycho family from hell." Ward scoffed.
"Hey!" Barton yelled. "It may have been a shitty thing to do but we thought… we thought it was the best way to hide you from that man that thing." Barton looked up at Ward his face full of regret.
"So how did it happen? What did he offer you? Money, fame, what is the going rate for someone's soul?"
"It wasn't like that John I mean Grant. Your mother was diagnosed with cancer after we learned she was pregnant with you. It wasn't like it is now treatments weren't… the woman I loved was dying and my own son with her! What was I supposed to do? Let you both die? I didn't know who he was. How could I? Naomi never told me about her family's shall we say unusual history with him." Barton shook his head "He came to me in the freaking eleventh hour! When you were both dying held himself out as some doctor offering a rare and promising treatment! I was desperate you were both dying. I thought what did I have to lose. I didn't know who he was let alone what he was!"
Ward was about to speak when he heard thunder from outside. Already the storm clouds were covering the sky, making it dark. Ward gave Barton a worried look "He's here find somewhere to hide."
There was a flash of lightning that startle Ward and Barton followed by a voice Ward recognized it as the voice of Donald Blake "Oh come now really do you actually think there is a place to hide from me?"
Ward saw a dark figure standing at the entrance of the chapel "Go away."
The stranger was about the same size and age as Coulson with short red hair he dressed in an all red suit complete with red gloves he walked with a cane that had a handle shaped like demon's skull. He chuckled "Now Ward or should I say Johnny? I mean I'm sure you feel like you've been hit with a curve ball but still you can't really want to save this-" The man paused to give Barton a look of superiority and disgust "sad excuse for a human being. I can't imagine how confused you must feel."
"Shut up!" Ward screamed pulling out a gun.
Red Suit just laughed "Really I bring you back from the dead and this is the thanks I get? Sorry but I didn't put all this time and energy into just to let it all go to shit!"
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"Hell?" Red suit laughed "Oh you have no idea. Tell me does this look familiar?" Red Suit waved his hand in front of his face changing his form.
Ward nearly lost his composer he couldn't believe the face staring back at him "You?"
Red Suit chuckled "Yeah me. I guess you and I haven't been truly properly introduced my real name is Mephistopheles friends call me Mephisto. Now come on I'm sure we can make a deal Grant or should I call you Johnny Blaze?"
A look of devastation filled Ward's face as he slowly realized a truth he'd been to blind, crazy, and stupid to see "It was all a lie wasn't it?"
"And the award for understatement of the century goes to…" Mephisto pretended to open up an imaginary envelope "Grant Ward come on down! In all honesty though why do you care what happens to this schmuck Grant? Your soul is already damned I pulled you out of the fire myself if not for me you'd still be there. What did he give you huh? A life loneliness with a foster family that treated you like crap?
"I gave you direction! I gave you purpose!" Mephisto screamed then quickly calmed himself and straightened his tie "Come on Grant. I've been more of a father to you than this nobody! What do you say? Kill this loser taint the holy ground you're on let me pass through I'll drag his soul to hell and we can go back to the good old days with you working for me." Mephisto's eyes narrowed into a glare aimed at Barton his tone went from pleasant and charming scary and threatening "It's not a weakness is it Ward?"
Ward glared at Mephisto his stance became more firm his grip on the gun "Yeah I guess HE is and it's not Grant Ward anymore it's Johnny, Johnny Blaze. I screwed up the first time around but I'm done making the wrong choices. So Garrette, Mephisto or whatever your name is go back to hell!"
Mephisto smirked "Just wait Johnny you'll find as a master less ghostrider the universe is a very lonely place I mean hell doesn't want you well my hell anyway and heaven sure won't have you after all the lives you've taken which is funny since no SHIELD agent is in heaven. You're not even human anymore there's no place for you except by my side."
"Goodbye John." Ward no Johnny then watched his enemy vanish in a puff of red smoke. He went back to Barton who had collapsed the cancer was finally getting to him. "Is there anything I can do… Dad?"
"No. Johnny I made my bed time I accept it." The storm cleared and the light shinned through the chapel. The light came through the windows striking the cross casting a shadow on both men.
Barton's breathing became heavy and his son could tell he was dying "Listen to me Johnny nobody in this world ever made it through without doing some kind of wrong. You got a second chance at life take it do some good in this world." Then Barton's eyes closed.
"Dad? Dad!"