Author's note:

Definitely leaning towards 40+ chapters now, I have begun mapping out the final stages.

Bit of a shorter one again.


Chapter 35: Only Human

"Oh really?" the devil eyed the last standing player, "You really think you can win this one Malina?" she taunted. The game had been an extremely long one, once the devil had joined most players went bust within the first few rounds, now there were two.

"Shut up and draw the last card" the Sour Demon was quite nervous, Lucifer was a worthy foe. The devil was extremely difficult to read, she didn't give her opponents any advantage, she had truly mastered the poker face.

The rest of the gang were all sat silently watching the game with intense interest, most of them not having dinner, eating anything they had scavenged from the now bare kitchen. Behemoth and Judgement were sat chatting quietly on one side, Zdrada was sat on the left side of her sister, actually providing some help whenever she needed it.

Malina was reluctant to show her sister her cards, but at least she was being helpful...for once. Justice was sat on the right side of Lucifer, also whispering advice in the devil's ear, but she didn't need it.

The Queen of Hell placed her two cards down and grabbed the stack of playing cards, taking one off of the top and moving it to the side, burning it. She grabbed the next card quickly, placing it face down next to the other four cards. The devil maintained eye contact with Malina as she slowly turned over the last card. A Three of Diamonds.

Malina let loose a frustrated sigh, "This isn't great" she muttered.

"Oh dear, feel like folding?" the devil continued her attack. After Malina looked at her cards once more and then at the deck on the table, she resumed the stare off with Lucifer.

"You're bluffing" she challenged.

"Am I?" the Queen's blank expression not relenting.

She glanced at the top of her own cards to see what she had got. Two Queens. The woman then looked at the deck; A Two of Diamonds, two Queens, a Four of Diamonds and a Three of Diamonds. The devil had four of a kind, but the question was what did Malina have?

The best she had was a straight flush, but the devil thought this was highly unlikely.

"Go on little one, do your worst". Malina scowled and threw down her cards, a Nine of Diamonds and a Six of Diamonds.

"A flush" the Sour Demon held her breath, awaiting the devil's turn.

"Well...looks like you've beaten me" the devil was now feigning sadness and depression at Malina's win, she placed her cards face down gently. However her opponent knew better than this.

"I ain't falling for that, show us your cards" her entire body was tensed, each muscle taut.

"Well done, never underestimate your enemies, even when it looks like you've won" the devil's blank gaze turned into a warm smile.

"Yeah, yeah, I've heard this lesson a million times...SHOW US YOUR CARDS!" she exploded, slamming a fist on the table. The devil obeyed finally, flipping then sliding the cards forward, revealing that she had four queens.

"Four of a kind", the Queen herself beginning to relish in yet another victory.

"Motherfucker" Malina got up from the table and headed over to her cupboard, reaching to the very back of the cupboard, retrieving her last bottle of Vodka. "I need a fucking drink". She had been saving it for a rainy day.

"Sorry Malina, you owe me one soul" the devil joked, moving her hands over the table. She picked up all the cards and began to shuffle them.

"Anyone want to go again?" she asked without looking up from her hands.

"Yeah right, I funnily enough don't have a death-wish" Justice leant her chair backwards, balancing on two legs. Lucifer suddenly noticed everyone around her had fallen strangely silent, Malina hadn't even begun her usual mumbling or sulking rant at how unfair her defeat was.

The devil finally looked up to see why everyone was so strangely quiet...and that's when she saw him.

There, in the doorway that connected the kitchen to the hallway, a tired, dirty and surprisingly thin Helltaker stood. He was leaning against the doorway with his right arm, he had silently staggered to the doorway and proceeded to watch the last round of Poker. No one had noticed him for a while, Malina being the first one to see him as she had turned around from retrieving her Vodka.

They all now stared in disbelief as the man breathed heavily, that signature smile still as bright as ever.

"Nice game...sorry I missed it" he joked, looking at each demon's worried stricken face. "What? Oh no, did you give me a face transplant?" he tried another joke.

The demons could not believe their eyes, he had only been a coma for five days and he was already walking and talking. Many had expected him to be like that for weeks, from what basic medical knowledge the demons had. Demons in Hell's infirmary would remain in a coma for weeks to years, and they wouldn't be the same after.

The demon family were also worried to see how thin he looked after such a short time, they thought it was due to not receiving proper food, but this was not the case.

The human's body had expended itself when coping with the Hell and Abyssal energy coursing through his veins, it may have healed him, but it had exhausted him physically and mentally.

His muscles had been diminished, any body fat had been burnt, his cheek bones looking especially thin. He had been healed, but at the cost of his prime muscular physique.

But at the moment, they didn't care, he was still alive...he was alright.

They were going to be alright...

"Why is everyone looking at me like I've been in a coma for a week, did I have to notify you when I was to wake?" he tried one last joke.

It was Malina who spoke first.

"Shut up you big idiot" her voice broke, the demon practically tackling him, burying her head into his chest, wrapping her arms around his thinner torso, the tears already gushing from her red eyes.

He embraced the smaller demon and smiled at the rest of them.

"Please tell me no one got into any trouble while I was under", but no one replied to that inquiry. Zdrada was next to hug him, fighting down the urge to cry, embracing both the human and her demon sister. "Why are you looking at me like that Lucy?" his smile subsided temporarily.

"Your face...you look...thin" the devil was afraid to go to him, she felt if she touched the human he would shatter. This "beefcake" of a man...had now lost most of his muscle mass.

"Well, I wish I could have told you how it felt, because a similar thing happened when we were in Hell" Malina withdrew from his embrace for a moment before going in again for another hug.

"Guess I'm not as strong as I thought, I feel exhausted...even after spending five days in bed" Zdrada withdrew from the hug, giving him a medium punch in the gut.

"Don't you dare go doing something like that again or I'll kill you" she didn't wait for his reply as she sped into the lounge. "Oi bitches, guess who is up and walking!"

He pried Malina off of his body but kept her at arms length, whispering a few words to her while everyone was speaking amoungst themselves.

"You are a brave demon Malina" referring to the earlier sisters confrontation.

"You heard all of that?!" she said quite shocked, knowing instantly what he was talking about.

"I did indeed, it takes a strong person to face the past like that", he noticed the last of the family were accumulating in the kitchen now. Before Malina could reply, he whispered again; "We can speak about it later okay? These lot will probably put me into another coma before they're done".

Malina nodded and took a few steps away, going to retrieve her bottle of Vodka off of the counter-top. Now it was a celebratory drink. The other demons had now flooded the kitchen all of them pouncing on him, all of them overjoyed.

"You're one tough nut aren't ya" Justice was hugging his right arm.

"I knew you'd be alright!" Azazel was hugging the man's chest. Cerberus exploded with excitement, their tails moving a million miles a minute, they were all of them screeching and squealing inaudible gibberish and cheers, all finding a place to hug. One of them hugged his right leg which made him wince slightly due to his wound, but no one noticed this.

Once those five had said what they needed to, Beelzebub was the next to embrace the Helltaker. At first she was timid, placing a red gloved hand on his cheek.

"Lucy was right, you are looking a little thin my dear", the dark Queen stroked his face and ran her hand through his black hair.

"Well, I'm alive. I can thank the two best surgeons in Hell" he looked at Beelzebub then at Lucifer, both severely embarrassed. "I was in good hands...I knew you'd fix me up".

Beelzebub decided to risk it and plant a kiss on his cheek, much to the jealousy of...well every female demon in the room.

"Welcome back my dear" she said afterwards, removing herself from his embrace.

"It's good to be back". Modeus had been strangely reluctant to interact with the Helltaker, before she stepped over to him, the demon turned to the devil and asked

"Am I 'allowed' to give him a hug?" huffing with silent anger.

"Oh for go- Yes!" Lucifer shouted at the Lustful Demon. The Helltaker was not ready to handle Modeus's pent up excitement as she leapt at him, wrapping her red socked legs around his pelvis once she had attached herself.

He grunted painfully, almost loosing balance. Thankfully, Judgement was standing closer and prevented him from falling backwards, she placed a hand on the back of his waist and tilted him forward.

"Easy Mo" she said, a smirk following.

Modeus wasn't listening, she was burying her face against his neck and face, purring at the skin contact, her black tail taut, stiff, bolt up right. A loving smile across her face. Behemoth was also stood next to the High Prosecutor, he had a bright smile on his face, his large black spiked horns almost scraping against the roof.

"Glad to see you hadn't left us...yet" the grey demon held out his open hand, the Helltaker did not need his own arms to support Modeus, thus took the demon's hands and shook it weakly.

"I'd hate to search through Hell for you" the grey demon gestured to Judgement, "I know she wouldn't rest until we found you". The Helltaker let out a pained breath.

"I don't think I'll be going in a cage anytime soon" he smiled, "Thanks for looking after them while I was under".

"Me? Look after them? Don't make me laugh!" the grey demon chuckled, Judgement also slightly laughing at that notion.

"Either way I think a beer is in order" the human smiled back.

"Yeah...about that" he turned to look at the embarrassed High Prosecutor, "We kind of drank...all them" the human looked at the equally as guilty big demon in front of him.

"All of them? Without me?" he sounded quite sad.

"We didn't know when you'd be up" Judgement sighed.

"Ah, I was only joking. We can get some more. I'm surprised Cerberus hasn't started eating the furniture after five days", the man was now trying his best to pry the Lustful Demon off of his body.

"Mo, please...you're hurting me" he let out another pained gasp, placing his hands on the demon's waist. Thankfully Modeus listened to him this time and let herself be placed down.

The demon was not finished however, she brought him into an aggressive kiss, holding his head with both hands, not allowing him to go up for air. The demon's animalistic urges had to be met somehow. Again most demons hiding their jealousy, Behemoth too slightly jealous of their infatuation for this human.

Once Modeus was finally torn away from the human and Judgement got her hug in, much to Behemoth's jealousy, Lucifer and Pandemonica were able to speak to him.

"I was wondering when my punching bag would finally awaken and make me a coffee" Pandemonica smirked at the human, Lucifer remaining silent with her arms crossed. She noticed he was looking extremely tired, his eyes struggling to stay awake.

"Well, even a coma patient fears having their fingers broken" his eyes faltered for a moment.

"Looks like you could do with a coffee more than I" the Sadistic Demon smiled, she too planted a kiss on his cheek.

"Glad to have you back, Lucifer has been worried sick, I've never seen the Queen so stressed. Millions of siege attempts against our citadel, a Titan invasion, constant assassination attempts...nothing in comparison to one sick human".

"You may be retired but I can still discipline you" the devil gave her former secretary a frosty glare.

"Alright, I'll leave you have your moment" the demon winked at the human before going over to Malina, nabbing her bottle of Vodka.

"Don't mind if I share?", she received a hiss as a reply.

The devil finally got her moment alone with the Helltaker at the edge of the kitchen. He came to her, giving her a big warm hug before they began speaking.

"How are you feeling?" she was maintaining her timid manner.

"Like a coma patient who has just woken up" he smirked, the man's sarcasm and blunt honesty still as sharp as ever. "Thirsty, tired, hungry, jaded, faint" the human did look quite pale. "I'm starving actually".

"Well, I'm afraid to tell you that there is practically no food in the house" she gestured to the cupboards around the kitchen.

"It's alright, has everyone else eaten?" he looked around the kitchen at the happy demons, most of them glancing over to him every now and again.

"No, we haven't. I was going to make pancakes but-" the devil then gestured to the hob where the frying pan lay broken. The Helltaker saw the pan without it's handle and laughed.

"How did you do that?" he walked over and picked it up, deciding that they could recycle it, the man just threw it out the back door.

He would clean it and get rid of it properly tomorrow.

"I- was trying to flip a pancake and I guess-" Lucifer was slightly embarrassed knowing he liked that frying pan as it had been in the house ever since they first started living together.

"How on earth did you break it?" the human was astounded at the devil's strength when doing something so simple.

"I guess I'm just stronger than you" Lucifer restored to comedy rather than confess to her meltdown.

"I already knew that" he smirked, making the devil blush.

"Anyway, I think a takeout is in order...can you be bothered to cook?".

"No, takeout sounds good. Something warm and lots of it" the devil looked at Malina and noticed she was listening to their conversation

"You thinking what I'm thinking?" the devil smirked.

"Pizza?!" Malina trying to hide her smile.

"Ah fuck sake, it better be something different than fucking Pepperoni this time!" Zdrada glared at both the devil and the human.

"Pepperoni is the best shut the fuck up!" her sister riposted.

"It's fucking shit Malinka, live a little and try something else. Stop being a sad little virgin all your life".

"Virgin?!" Malina was for some reason offended by this insult. The Helltaker did not want to be apart of this unfolding argument.

"Alright, I'm going to get my phone" he turned away and began walking out of the kitchen. The argument behind increasing in volume and intensity, however a hand grabbed onto his wrist and prevented him from leaving.

"Aren't you forgetting something?" the devil's voice came from behind him.

"Well, let me guess yo-" the devil had already pressed her lips against his own, a kiss rightfully claimed.


The five large Pizza boxes arrived relatively fast, the Helltaker begging Cerberus not to chase the delivery driver to their car again. They actually listened to him...for once. The exhausted human went to the door to retrieve the large square boxes, the delivery man laughing at the sight of the tired, thin man.

"I think you need a salad and some sunlight instead of these" the man had said.

"Take the tip and go" a tired Helltaker couldn't be bothered to deal with pleasantries.

He carried the boxes into the lounge and dropped them down onto the coffee table, Cerberus, Azazel and Malina were sat on the floor around the table awaiting their food.

"Eat up, I'm taking a box for myself though" he had said taking a box off of the top of the stack. The human practically collapsed into the middle of the sofa, opening the white box to see which flavor he had chosen...Chicken Club with extra hot sauce and chili peppers...fuck yeah.

"What flavor you got?" Modeus leant over to look into his box.

"A spicy one, try a slice" the Helltaker passed his box over to Modeus. Justice came and claimed her seat on his right.

"Give us a slice" the blind demon demanded.

"Save some for me" is all he asked.

As the family devoured their food and the TV played in the background, the Helltaker felt quite strange. As he ate and drank, feeling his strength returning, the man felt sick.

However, the human did not show this weakness, he shrugged it off not wanting to attract anymore attention to himself. The warm satisfying feeling of seeing his demons feast upon their dinner was paving over this lingering illness. Cerberus was being especially greedy and devouring as many slices as she could get her hands on.

The two grey demons had decided to stand and eat their food, Judgement explaining to him what it was.

"Oh for- It's basically melted cheese, tomato and meat on crusty bread" the high prosecutor held the box while the two began eating the Meat Feast.

"It smells good whatever it is" Behemoth practically swallowed his first slice.

"Damn give me some more" the large demon took the box off of Judgement.

"Hey! Save some for me knucklehead" both of them grappling for the white box.

The Helltaker heard their conversation behind him and chuckled, knowing that he would have to explain the basics of life on the 'surface' to Behemoth at some point.

Don't they teach demons anything about our world? He also wanted to ask the two what the difference was between themselves and their white demonic counterparts. Maybe there is no difference and you're just a demon racist his mind joked to itself. Shut the fuck up the sane part of his mind replied.

"Could you hear us?" the Curious Angel looked up at him from the floor, speaking with a mouthful of Pizza, "While you were sleeping?".

"I could, it was very touching to hear what you all had to say" the Helltaker looked at Azazel initially then at all the other demons.

"I'm looking at you Zdrada" he knew this would make her incredibly uncomfortable.

"Fuck you, how's that for touching?" she spat Pizza everywhere as she spoke, raising her middle finger at him.

The man was only on his third slice and was feeling incredibly sick, it was as if the more he ate the more he felt like he was going to vomit. He probably shouldn't be chowing down on fatty foods like Pizza right after waking up from a coma, at least he was rehydrating.

But this wasn't only a physical nausea...it was a mental one too. It was as if his mind was only now coming to terms with what had happened; he got knifed, he got fucking stabbed.

Why did a single knife attack leave him feeling so strange? He had been shot at, he had been tortured, he had been beaten, he had felt the abyss's corrupting touch...but this mugging six days ago now shook him to his core. Maybe three years of comfy living had softened him.

Then it hit him...

He had put someone he cared about...someone he loved in danger...Malina.

He was always told that demons could only be killed by another demon...but Malina was not a demon...not truly.

As his mind processed this, he could feel himself breaking down. Malina could have been killed, he knew that it would take a small army to kill her but the fact that he put her in that situation...he fought down the urge to vomit.

But this wasn't the only thought that was fighting for space, plaguing his mind now...

What was- what were these feelings he was having? He felt fragile, he felt vulnerable knowing an attack like that had left him bedridden. Was he having a mental breakdown?

"Hey, what's wrong?" Modeus have noticed he wasn't eating, instead staring off into the distance. His face an inhuman shade of white, Modeus's soft voice snapped him from this trance.

"Huh? Of course Modeus, just need a moment" he stood up, placing his box on her lap. Modeus had noticed he didn't address he question properly.

"Don't eat any! I'll know if you do" he faked a smile causing Modeus to drop any concern she had and giggle.

However, this charade was the complete opposite of the man's true emotions right now, he hastily walked to the kitchen and opened the backdoor, letting it slam as soon as he went through it.

The human stepped out into the cool night, the summer months were drawing to a close, the Helltaker could feel this as a gust of wind made him shiver.

He walked along the gravel towards the railing that overlooked the crashing waves and rocks below, the same place Zdrada and Justice had smoked when he was being operated on. He gazed out to sea, wishing he still had Justice's sunglasses on his face, his eyes being visible always betrayed him.

The mask that sunglasses provided prevented anyone from guessing what his true feelings were.

"Fuck" he spoke to no one, holding his head in his right hand, the right arm leaning on the railing. The Helltaker then did something that he had never done since his therapy sessions and PTSD fueled nightmares; he cried.

Crying was an understatement, it was more of an uncontrollable weep. This had been coming for a while now. The man felt absolutely overwhelmed, the swirling layers of thoughts, emotions, doubt, it was too much.

The fact that he had regained his life...again...

But it just goes to show how easy it could have been taken away...again...

Or could it? What if he still had his revival power? What if he had died, then been revived back to a minute before bleeding out? He would have been stuck in a loop of perpetual dying.

He purged that thought from his mind forever.

But that wasn't it; it wasn't just this close brush with death for both himself and Malina, it was the continued love of his demons which was breaking him down again.

They had been there for him all throughout the last five days, yet as soon as he awoke they had resumed like everything was normal...but everything was normal.

"What the fuck is happening to me?" he said aloud.

His mind was doing somersaults, worrying about things that had never once before crossed his mind. These demons will be the death of me the thought echoed in his mind. Beelzebub confessing her love to him, the sister's tragic past, Zdrada actually apologising, all of what the demon's said to him while he was under.

It's amazing what people say to you when they think you can't hear them.

So the man wept, his insecurities, his weaknesses, his past, his anxieties all of them causing him to feel like the scum of the earth.

This emotional trauma made him feel incredibly ill, he felt so close to vomiting. Was this a side effect of the treatment he had received? Increased emotional stress? Nausea? He did wonder how the Hell and Abyssal energy had affected his brain.

There is only so much a mind can take.

The man continued to empty his mind and soul, he needed to do this, otherwise bottling it up would have destroyed him completely. Could he keep up this act?

Could he keep being 'the Helltaker'?

...

Could he keep everyone together?

. . . . . . . .

Could he keep himself together?

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The door opened and he heard footsteps crunching the gravel as they approached. The man instantly stood erect and wiped his face of any tears that might be there. There would be relentless insults if they ever found out he cried.

The footsteps stopped a short distance behind him, the Helltaker could not muster the courage to turn and see who it was. He couldn't face anyone confidently...not now during this moment of vulnerability.

"Hey" the soft voice called to him, the Helltaker still not turning to face the demon.

"Hey" his raspy voice replied, he sniffed afterwards only confirming her suspicions further.

She came to him this time, coming to lean on the railing on his right. Her white gloved hand interlocked with his and she held onto it tightly, standing as close to him as she could.

"Never thought I'd see you cry, it was only hot sauce and some peppers" the devil had adopted his mannerism of inserting comedy into a fragile moment, it helped ease the tension.

"I'm not crying" the Helltaker let loose a small chuckle while wiping his face with his left hand.

"I'm sorry" he no longer tried fighting to hide his emotions. The devil cuddling into him as he wept. "You probably think I'm weak...not exactly-" he fought down a sob.

"I'm not the Helltaker...I'm just a regular human".

"There is nothing special about me...never has been".

For a while the devil did not reply, the Helltaker turning and fully embracing her again, crying on her shoulder. Lucifer simply held him and stroked the back of his head, a few occasional whispers to keep him quiet.

"Shhhh dear". After what felt like an eternity, he drew himself away, knowing fully well that Lucifer no longer saw him the same way she had once before. No longer held him in high regard.

But before he could express this doubt, Lucifer had placed a finger on lips, as if she knew exactly what he was thinking and what he was about to say next.

"You think I have never cried before?" she asked, the human not knowing what to say.

"No, you're the fucking devil" he ended up saying.

"You think I don't have breakdowns when I loose the people dear to me; You, Justice, the sisters, even fucking Beelzebub...".

"You think I didn't cry myself to sleep every...single...night when Beelzebub had taken you from us. The thought that I might never seen you again...". It was Lucifer's turn to become teary eyed, her voice also breaking apart now.

"You think I don't know the burden you carry, the lengths you go to protecting us, the mental strain it must cause...".

"So don't you dare go thinking I would treat you any differently to how I have and always will" she now made direct eye contact with him, both of the pairs of eyes had tears slowly falling from them.

"I love you... and I always will...never forget that" the devil was pouring her soul out to him, she too was now in an incredibly vulnerable position.

"And I love you too...I'm-" he coughed slightly, sniffing afterwards.

"I'm just so exhausted...", his hands went down to her waist. "Let's get out of here, me and you" he said suddenly, "Just the two of us". The devil shocked by this sudden change of topic.

"Where would we go?" she asked, wiping away her last tear.

"Anywhere, just for a week or so. I heard Seattle is a nice place to visit" even now as he was crying he joked, referring to their last excursion.

"Maybe somewhere different this time" the devil smirked. "But..." she used the back of her finger to wipe the last of his tears away. "Maybe another night, we need to get you rested and in shape again". The Helltaker sighed, knowing she was right.

"Yes, rest sounds good" he turned to look out across the sea, the darkness slightly illuminated by a dim half crescent moon.

"Grab a Pizza box and join me in my room then" the devil smirked.

"Yes Ma'am" he said, now leaning down so that the devil could kiss him. It was a gentle and soft one, yet their passion still burned bright. Once they parted she left him standing at the railing, the human deciding to take one last look at the silhouette of the coast. He sighed, a cold breeze making him shiver again, deciding he should probably follow Lucifer inside.

The warm embrace of the devil was calling to him.


Slowly but surely the end is approaching :(