Welcome dears!
This story is based on a plot idea I had floating for a while, and finally got myself to work on when I decided to do the DGM Polyamory Week. The story was always meant to have a polyamory ship (or ships, but I'm speaking of the main one), so it felt very fitting. And I fell in love with the idea as I developped it.
This is a Demon AU, though there are two of the AU prompts for the Polyweek that play in it, which I won't reveal until later (it plays a part in plot twist SO). Of course, if you know the AU prompts and try to guess which could come into play, you can have a hint. But I won't say anything. Most of the Polyamory prompts, if not all, also play a part in this (Firsts, New Relationship Energy, Doubt&Trust, Jealousy, Communication, Security, Stability), as well as the song prompt theme of Ties.
The AU will of course use elements of canon but, changed into the AU. For example, Noahs and Akumas have a new meaning here. Most of the worldbuilding is shown or explained in the first two, three chapters; and this Prologue should already give an idea of it. But there are likely elements that will be better explained later!
Pairing wise; the main one is Tyki/Nea/Allen/Mana. Tyki/Nea and Tyki/Mana is established, Nea&Mana is brotherly, Allen is included so there is a triad of Tyki/Allen/Nea while Tyki also still has a relation with Mana. There will also be queerplatonic Mana&Allen, they will be considered partners too.
As a note, Mana and Adam are both present in this story, Mana as Nea's twin and Adam as pretty much everyone's fatherly figure.
Full summary because AO3 let me write a longer summary and now I want it here too: In which Hell is the afterlife of mortal magicians, where they become beings called Akumas, servants and warriors of the Noahs. In which Noahs are the very first inhabitants of Hell, born in it, and as human looking as mortals, but more powerful magicians than any mortal. In which they life their immortal life as a friendly war of territory, fought with Demons, the beasts born in Hell, and their Akumas.
In which Adam is their leader, the Creator of Akumas. In which Mana is the breath of Life for new Akumas, and Nea the counterpart of Mana, the breath of Destruction that keep Hell itself alive.
In which Allen is a new Akuma, the first to become the servant of Life&Destruction. But if the Noahs grow to like him, the same cannot be said for fellow Akumas. Especially as he has no desire to fight and no offensive abilities.
But maybe what makes them most jealous, is how delicious his energy is said to be, and how charmed three certain Noahs are.
[Started for DGM Polyamory Week 2018!]
Thank you dearpolygraymorous for the event, and I hope you will enjoy~
(Chapter 1 is already written, but I will wait tomorrow to post!)
Bring me to Life
Prologue
Fearful cries echoed as people ran in all directions, too panicked and too disorganized, voices called for order, even as orbs of red and green shot upwards.
Brightness from above increased the panicked mass, even though ice formed as a dome, tree roots seeming to strenghten it.
The screams were drowned by the windows shattering that followed the loud sound that they associated with judgement; and then the dome broke with roots burning down, bright light blinding the area.
The loudest sound came, and then silence.
No one remained, nothing remained, buildings and nature alike razed to nothing.
There was nothing remaining, but the form hovering.
The scrying orb fell from hands as the wrathful gaze seemed to lock on the holder, the growls still echoing.
They were next.
A soft lullaby echoed in the room as the large, ovale shaped item pulsed with purple light. A middle aged man, or so he would seem to mortals, played with eyes closed. Grey colored fingers stopped when there was a glow, and Adam opened his golden eyes, half turning toward the Egg.
He stared for a moment as an orb formed in the purple light, and then a soft smile formed. He stood up from the piano's bench, first approaching the Egg, leaning close. The orb seemed to back off a bit, almost hiding in the depth of the purple light. Adam's smile saddened.
"Aren't you a shy one… Were your last moments on Astral so hard?" He whispered, and the orb brightened a bit. Adam chuckled. "So curious, I hope you will keep this trait when you wake anew."
The door opened, making Adam straighten and turn, his smile fond as the younger man entered. Warm golden eyes went to the Egg, upon seeing the orb, a bright smile formed.
"I knew it! I was passing when I heard you stop playing, I thought there might be a soul." Bouncy steps brought the younger to Adam's side. His expression turned even brighter when the orb seemed to float closer to the edge of the Egg.
Then his expression suddenly changed, going blank as he blinked. Adam frowned in confusion and worry. "Mana? What is it, little brother?"
Mana snapped his gaze at Adam, eyes a bit wide. "Their resonance… They're Nea's and mine's." He replied in a soft voice, a mix of disbelief and amazement in his tone.
Deep surprised flashed in Adam's eyes. "Dual resonance? With you two?" Then, Adam frowned. "What is the next energy signature?"
Mana's gaze returned on the orb, biting his lower lip. "I tried to look, but there isn't any… They could be anyone's." He paused, then added, softer, "Maybe they are meant to be ours?"
Adam sighed, stepping closer and putting a hand on Mana's shoulder, smiling sadly at the slightly lost look he received. "Mana, you know Nea and you are special. Many Akumas hope to one day be the ones who can be Apprentice to one of you. And it is not fair to them, to let someone who has no energy standing out claim that place." He glanced at the orb. "I'm not saying we should disregard a soul that might resonates with you and Nea, but the reason it never happened before is because new Akumas are meant to adjust under a Noah. You, Nea and I aren't just Noahs."
"But then why do they have our signature?" Mana questioned, stubborn. "Dual resonance had to happen a first time. Equal energy had to happen a first time. Maybe no other energy stands out because for the first time, we are their primary signature."
"And most dual Akumas cannot grow as strong, if they even risk belonging to two. And this one wouldn't even be able to fight any Akumas, only demons. They would be considered part of all territory."Adam softened at Mana's almost pained expression. "Brother, I'm not saying you or Nea can't have them. But it is in their best interest, to let them adjust and grow under someone else. You know as well as I do that if their death was too brutal, their energy might not yet be fully adjusted."
"Then we let them decide, right?" Mana muttered, shoulders dropping. "We do like we always do when equal energy happen."
Adam smiled softly, hand ruffling Mana's hairs, chuckling at the protesting sound. "Yes, precisely. Now let's just make their skeleton, shall we?"
Mana only nodded silently, some sadness in the golden eyes that almost broke Adam's resolve. Almost. He might love his little brother, but it was his duty-as well as his brother's-to make sure each new Akuma was delivered to who could best make them grow. And even with some actual resonance, no new Akuma could handle the depth of energy Mana and Nea had; providing it was not just a delay in other resonances showing.
Adam knew this new one would soon choose someone else, and so, he wanted to avoid the pain his little brothers would have, even if he had to break their hope right away.
Still, a part of Adam felt… curious. Hopeful? His gaze drifted to the org floating in the Egg even as he let energy spark from his hands, slowly creating the skeleton, the base for a body that could live in Hell. What if Mana was right, and this one was best given to his brothers?
There was nothing else but to wait and see. Logic told him it was not possible, he had seen many souls, and while almost always soothed by Mana's presence, while intimidated by Nea's, all would flutter toward one of the Noahs. Mana was the breath of life, and Nea the breath of destruction, and Akumas were living in between, but never at the ends.
But Adam's heart… Deep down, his heart felt pulled to the new soul. A good soul, with a brutal death? That might explain the lack of proper resonance, this poor one's soul might have been pulled two ways because of it, and it had yet to find their balance again. Certainly a fact that brought compassion, Adam was the Creator of all Akumas after all, they were his children; but still, not enough to forget logic.
Finally, the skeleton was completed, and Adam glanced at Mana. With a small laugh, he realized his brother had not paid attention to anything, but the soul floating around. It was adorable, yet it made Adam frown. His brother might not have realized the logic behind how the soul felt currently, or maybe Mana did, but of course his brother would feel even more compassion, enough to blind him.
"Mana, if you please." Adam called out, a little sharply.
Mana jumped a bit, cheeks reddening as he snapped his gaze at his brother. The guilty look softened Adam a bit, but he still made a pointed look at the skeleton. "O-of course, brother."
Warm, purple energy flew from Mana. Adam stepped back a bit, watching as the energy formed a path from the Egg to the skeleton. The soul first backed away, but Mana whispered gently to it, comforting words of, "It's okay, you won't be harmed," and finally, the soul flew into the path.
When it touched the skeleton, white light shone. The purple energy vanished now that it did its work, while the white light slowly formed an humanoid shape. With no energy standing out, Adam didn't feel surprised to see the body looking exactly like a mortal's ones.
That was until the left arm darknened to metalic silver, fingers turning into claws. Adam lifted an eyebrow, that was a nice weapon if he was honest, making their own body into what they could fight with.
Then a red line started to trace itself on the body's left cheek, going up until it touched the eye. The left eye turned a solid black, while the right one showed a normal white sclera with a light silver iris forming. A red pentragram formed in the left eye, while the red line finished tracing a small bit above the eye.
The eyes blinked, and the left one became like the right one, while the red line remained, like a scar, one so red Adam could only take as the scar of this soul's death, marking them forever.
A little sound left Mana, surprised even as he smiled a little bit, when the ear elongated, then changed into… into feathers? Yes, they were pointed but fluffy, as if they were two feathers sticking out of the head, and apparently acting like animalistic ears, because they flicked up at the sound Mana made.
Silver eyes turned to Mana even as hairs formed, and Mana heard himself take in a sharp breath at the pure whiteness of those hairs, but also from the intensity of those eyes. Strands of white hairs framed the ovale face, spiky at the back, and stopping at the base of the neck.
The light started to dim, until it vanished, leaving the new Akuma standing there, very naked. Adam and Mana blinked, then Mana let out a loud squeak, flustered even as he glanced up, while Adam moved toward the newcomer. Forming clothes was supposed to be an instinct too, but it seemed that one didn't notice. Or forgot. Or maybe was too disoriented.
What Adam didn't expect, was the frightened sound that left the pink lips as wide silver eyes turned to him, the Akuma stepping backward from him the moment they noticed the approach, ears flattening. It made Adam freeze. Since when did Akumas fear their Creator?
As if reacting to the sound, Mana stepped toward the Akuma, who this time didn't move, still staring at Adam, guarded and unsure. Hesitantly, Mana touched the left arm, which made the Akuma glance down before blinking and looking at Mana.
Mana was still a bit red, but he offered a kind smile, eyes meeting the silver ones. "My brother just wants to make clothes for you, since you didn't do it." He reassured.
A slow blink was given, then the Akuma glanced down at themselves. Mana could tell when it occurred to them that they were naked, because redness blossomed over their face. They cleared their throat, gazing back up at Mana with wide silver eyes.
Mana let out a chuckle, looking toward Adam. "Brother, if you please?"
Oh, that was totally some form of teasing, and Adam gave a long look before finally approaching again. Still, the Akuma tensed, even leaned their frame closer to Mana, but didn't move away. Adam simply touched the top of their head, and energy washed down, forming dark pants and a sleeveless dark top, completed with dark boots.
Mana couldn't help a laugh. "You like black?"
The Akuma glanced at Mana, gaze drifting for a few seconds to Mana's long, dark hairs, and then looking back into Mana's eyes, they nodded.
Adam hid his snort with a cough, while Mana blinked and felt himself fluster again. "I, um, that's good." Mana scratched his cheek with a finger, a gesture the Akuma watched with deep attention. "So… Do you remember your name?"
The Akuma blinked, then lifted a hand, and Mana almost yelped when he saw a claw coming toward the pale's cheek, but the sound died out in his throat when he realized it didn't harm the skin. And really, he felt almost no surprise, that the Akuma was scratching their cheek.
"… Allen." The voice that left them was smooth, a light baritone. "My name's Allen." They repeated, and finally, a smile formed on their face.
It was hesitant, shy, but oh so warm. Mana knew that Allen would be a ravaging force.
Adam, for his part, knew that getting Allen away from Mana would be even harder.
To be continued...