T'is I
YO DA YO
Ayame wher sadge pepehands
With that unrelated blabber, here's your fix. Don't sniff it too much
The Devil
Chapter 2
||Old Friends and New||
Throughout his entire unnatural lifetime, Hades had seen the unthinkables. How a man split an entire ocean, how the Tower of Babylon met their doom, how the Olympians managed to gather supporters even with their disgusting criminal acts and unapologetic treatments to beings lesser than them, and how a Phoenix died. But never had he seen one curiosity such as this. A Guardian of the Yōkai clans, confined inside a small piece of rock hardly the size of his pinky.
"How peculiar," Hades muttered, the tiny blue flames in his eye sockets flickering as he observed the gemstone laid before a counter made of obsidian glass, that was really just a polished chunk of obsidian with a flattened surface rather than a table. "You said you hold no recollection of the day you… turned to a rock?"
"I am NOT a rock! I am trapped in it," Yasaka hissed. "And no. None whatsoever, Lord Hades."
Hades glanced up at Lucifer on the other end of the small counter. "You think Loki did this?"
"Norse made the best kind of seals," Lucifer shrugged, not really willing to put that much thought into it as the evidence had been quite telling. "And besides, who else would do this without an apparent reason other than to cause a little bit of mischief?"
"That doesn't answer why he confined her."
"Amusement?" Lucifer guessed, noncommittal. "You have to admit that it is pretty funny."
"Oh it is," Hades chuckled along with Lucifer, much to Yasaka's dismay. "I merely am keeping my mind open for other more sensible answers."
"I'm thrilled to know you two jokers see the hilarity in misery."
"It's always funny when it happens to others."
Hades sniggered. "He's not wrong, Lady Yasaka."
"Of course he's not wrong. He's never wrong. He's always technically right."
Lucifer was quick with his quip carried with his self-satisfied smile. "Best form of being right."
"But amusing as it is… I can't see this spelling anything other than disaster. Your territory is without its Guardian. If there's ever a chance to strike, then it would be now. Yet one question remains; why haven't they?"
"That's what I feared the most…" Yasaka muttered, genuine worry sewn in her words. "...Who will protect my people when I'm here?"
Lucifer lowered his eyelids as he felt Hades' nudging stares. He could even feel Yasaka staring at him with foxy-puppy eyes, and she was inside a rock.
"I am disinclined to acquiesce to your request," he snappily said. "That means no."
Hades, who stood two heads taller than The Devil, turned as he said to him, "Savior, conqueror, hero, villain. You are all these things, Lucifer, and yet you chose to be nothing. Stay on this same beaten path, and you will forever stand alone."
"I do stand alone. Always has. Always will," Lucifer said, unimpressed and unaffected. He had accepted the fact that he was the only soul to ever fall as an Archangel, rise and die as an Archdevil, and ascend into Godhood as the new Alpha and Omega. Odd how these creatures didn't seem to like the idea.
"Spare me your sagely advice, Hades," he then said. "If I ever find myself ever in need, I'll let you know."
"By that time, perhaps it'll be too late."
"Well better late than never," shrugged the young man, appearing in his mid twenties. The 'prime age' for most cretins that was affected with aging and getting weaker with time. "And I bear no ill will towards your wiseness, but sagacious and well-meaning counsel won't get our fox friend out of her prison. I need action, Hades. I intend to take action. If you can't unbind her seals, then at the very least confirm that it is Loki who did it."
Hades sighed, but he nonetheless replied. "There's a slew of other magic, but yes. This amulet is indeed sealed mostly by Norse Magic. Although is it Loki? As you've seen, Odin has him imprisoned since he let Fenrir out."
"A bit excessive of a punishment, might I add," Lucifer said. "Let the poor wolf scamper. I don't see the necessity in keeping him caged like a zoo animal."
"Perhaps because it can and has killed Heroes and Gods in its rabid rage."
"As did Hela, but his sons killed her… Some millennia ago."
"Ah you were there, weren't you? Didn't you lay with her?"
"You what?"
"I thought her eyeliner was cute and ahead of her time. Bit edgy… rough on the outside… Spiky armaments but not unheard from the Asgardians. A shame that she wanted to bring the rest of the Realms under Asgard's rule," The Devil sighed. "She sealed her fate when she wanted my Hell."
Hades chuckled. "Didn't think that through, did she."
"Evidently not. If I was her, I'd have settled for Asgard first, not pissing off and uniting all the bickering gods, including Shiva. You should've seen her face when he crushed her skull. It's like he was crushing a pumpkin."
"Oh I did," Hades muttered. "I saw."
"But why should we bother with her? She's dead," Lucifer said. "Her wolf, on the other hand…"
"Still capable of killing gods."
"Then sedate him. His pelt can make for a fine mantle," Lucifer said, free of guilt. "If they're aware of their incompetency, they shouldn't have tried to control what's beyond their control in the first place. There's a reason no one keeps dragons as pets…" Though the idea started to sound tempting to him, now that he mentioned it.
Hades only shook his head. Not in disagreement, rather, as he was agreeing with Lucifer. "Why speak to me? I hold no authority over Asgard's mandate."
"Hmm…" Lucifer idly hummed in response as Hades continued to tweak with the pendant. Little did the old reaper know, Lucifer was picturing himself as the first dragon tamer. It did have quite a nice ring to it. But what kind of dragon? Any ordinary dragon was no accomplishment, he must set the bar as high as possible so that no other could ever hope to match his steps. The Heavenly Dragons were sealed so they were out of the equation. The Dragon Kings? Vritra was sealed in one of those lousy Sacred Gears; clear evidence of his father's preferential treatments towards his favorite toys. Tannin was already in cahoots with the Underworld. Yu-Long? Green skinned coward. He'd turn tail before Fenrir. Miðgarðsormr? Name excessively mouthful and an ugly serpent in general. Not to mention he was Loki's son.
Tiamat?
Well… she wouldn't be the worst choice. Far from it, actually. He'd imagine scuttling her immense pride as he forced her to recognize his dominance would be no doubt mouth-wateringly satisfying. But was there really nothing else other than the Chaos Karma Dragon?
…Ah…of course. Why not settle for the Dragon God? He should seek out the Ouroboros Dragon. For the Infinite, Ophis was rather… simple-minded, or so he'd heard. All he had to do was pinpoint what interested her most, other than kicking Great Red out of the Dimensional Gap, and promise her as such. Seeking others' temptations was a trivial thing.
"Nevertheless…" Hades continued, handing over the necklace to his side of the counter. "Though it might seem obvious that Loki is the culprit; he's imprisoned. And as you said earlier, Lady Yasaka, you didn't remember who did it, which led me to believe it couldn't be him. If it's Loki, he would've let you know it's him. He likes to gloat."
"...Rrgh…" Yasaka groaned. "Who else then?"
"Either a very talented magician or another god with enough power to restrain yours, and banish you to another plane of existence."
"What's it like in there, Yasaka?" asked Lucifer.
"...As of this moment I am sitting by the porch of a cottage atop a small hill, talking to the stars like a lunatic," she said, not at all pleased. "I don't feel hunger or the need to rest, but there are peach trees and cherry blossoms. It's… very scenic, I'll admit, and there's even an outdoor hot spring as well."
Lucifer exchanged a glance with Hades, before staring back at the pendant. "Seems to me you're in a retreat instead of a jail cell."
"As beautiful as it is, I don't want to be here!" Yasaka fumed. Lucifer could clearly picture all her nine tails lashing about, and since the size of her tail was as tall as her in person, it was actually quite the spectacle when all nine of them were angrily whipping the air.
"...I can't be here…" Yasaka then said in a hushed tone. "...What else can I do…? Any more of this, then I might start to lose my fur…"
"Christ Almighty, anything but the fur," Lucifer said in abject mock horror. "Come now, Hades. You've been prattling about but I'm not hearing any solution here."
"There isn't yet a solution," Hades said. "I can't break the spell even with my Authority. Don't you see? Whoever did this is a being more powerful than me."
Lucifer sighed as he made a face. "And the list remains lengthy."
"I am the most powerful of all Olympians," Hades warned, his skeletal fingers pointing at him. The old reaper's pride was noticeably hurt by his scathing dry humor. "I alone is enough to bring cataclysm over earth and restart the Dark Age."
Lucifer was not amused. "Why would I concern myself with the wellbeing of a few billion people. You need them. I don't. If you want my blessing as the former Herald of the Apocalypse, then be my guest."
"It's not about my capacity to bring doomsday, Lucifer. It's about the culprit having the same potency to do the same and perhaps more. You might not care, yet, but if they can contain a Guardian spirit on a whim, you can imagine the scope of their power."
"Well. Then the earth dwellers should be grateful they haven't been wiped out yet." Lucifer picked up the necklace, wearing it around his neck, promptly tucking the flat pendant inside his collar. "You worry too much, Hades. Anxiety is not healthy for your bones."
Hades resisted his desire to roll his eyes as he kept track of The Devil. "You're leaving? Where to?"
"You're out of answers, so I'm heading to Odin," Lucifer casually said as he fixed the lapels of his suit. "I'll tell him you said hi."
Break
Leave it to The Devil to jump between Realms to show up unannounced and mutter the name of one of Asgard's dangerous criminals in front of the Allfather, in his personal office, in front of his personal Valkyrie retinue, while he was in the middle of his… mind-numbing King of Agard duties. This particular case, Odin was administering justice to his people — through a mountain of paperwork.
"Odin," Lucifer nodded as a casual greeting. "I see you are still alive and well. Unfortunately…"
Understandably, in spite of the spite shown by his housecarls and valkyries, the magnificently salt and pepper bearded Old God was more than happy to have a distraction.
"Lucifer!" Odin stood up from his glorious table with inglorious papers and documents, "So good to see you. I expect you to bring me a piece of freedom so that I can rid myself of these chains called duties and responsibilities and new tax rate reforms… Get these papers off my desk; I have a guest."
"My kind of freedom is self-earned, I'm afraid," Lucifer said as he watched Odin's secretary begrudgingly set aside the paperworks for him, cleaning the table as she carried the stack of documents elsewhere. "One of its requirements is for you to rid yourself of your Kingdom. Which I can gladly help, without needing to involve Surt either."
Lucifer smiled harmlessly as every sort of weapon, though mostly spears and glaives made of Asgardian mythril, were pointed at him.
"No one threatens his grace in the presence of his Valkyries and Huscarls," said one of the valkyrie, mythril glaive aimed to lob his head.
"You consider a joke a threat?" The Devil kept his imperious demeanor as that was what ticked off these kinds of glorified sentries the most. "If I want to threaten anyone, I can assure you at least two people would have been set on fire as a warning. Like this."
"...Huh…? Huh? Argh— AHHH! NOOOO!" One of the valkyries screamed in agony as black and crimson hellfire combust from the floor beneath her, clutching her face as she felt her flesh and muscles melted off like a candle, her knees dropping to the floor, while her fellow coworkers could only stand and watch in confusion.
"E-Eir? Wh-what did you do to her, you fiend?!"
Then all her friends slumped to the floor, screaming their lungs as the same malevolent flames consumed their flesh. She watched their metallic fingers reach out for her, crying for her help as they crawled, flesh and muscles dripping off their bones.
"Alright, Lucifer, cut it out with your mind tricks," Odin said as he thumped his golden spear against the ground, ending the illusion he cast at the unfortunate valkyrie.
Who was rooted to the spot, completely frozen, her eyes staring off into the distance as tears welled.
"She could use a vacation," Lucifer pointed out as she gasped. "Preferably a therapist as well."
"Send her home," Odin grumbled, ushering a few of his guards who began escorting the mindbroken valkyrie outside his office. "She'll be fine after a rest… Will she, Lucifer?"
"She will, she will…" Lucifer plaintively raised his hands in a halfhearted surrender. "My apology. I feel threatened by all these pointy sticks, you see… wielded by men and women in their fine armor and their pretty white cloak."
"We all know you don't," the Allfather scoffed. "And you lot, stop humoring him you numbnuts. He's done this every time he's been here, how many times do you people have to bite the bait?" Odin grouched, ordering his guards to stand down with a wave of his hand.
His heavily armored guards with the big bendy horned helmet and shiny breastplates and of course, pretty white cloaks.
Lucifer never understood Northerners' fascination with horny helmets. He probably wanted to let it remain a mystery anyway. A bit more flair to compensate for their stuck-uppiness, perhaps.
"We can never be certain, your highness. After all, a devil can never be trusted," said one of the valkyries. The most respected one too, for that matter, and being Odin's daughter might have helped with her reputation. Dressed in a modest set of crystalline blue armor with enchanting long light blue hair which galaxies seemingly spangled across, Brynhildr had retained her title as Asgard's most beautiful and strongest valkyrie, and one who had suffered a heartbreak and yet to recover.
You could tell she was special because she wasn't wearing any stag-like helmet to hide her flawless face.
And Lucifer couldn't help himself from strutting towards her in his relaxed, confident stride, his crimson pair never leaving her doe-like lavender eyes.
"Good afternoon, Brynn," he said to her, still with his assured borderline arrogant smile.
"Afternoon. Albeit I can yet to declare if it'll be a good one."
"Well I suppose that depends on my mood," he added surreptitiously. "Yet to evict that dead man out of your heart?"
She replied with a daggering glare and a downward slash of her spear, splitting the air he stood with her large mythril blade shaped in a reminiscent of the shape of a heart.
The hit wouldn't kill him or injure him, but it would at least still sting a little. And Lucifer was no masochist. He preferred to be the one delivering the judgment, if anything.
"I'll take that as a no." Lucifer, of course, had blinked himself to safety, earning more glares as he purposely used Loki's sparks whenever he blinked for the sake of riling as many people as he could. Call him a child, but he wasn't the most childish here. Losing their minds because he added tiny fireworks? Really now… And these people prided themselves for being Odin's most elite guards.
"His name is Sigurd, and I will not allow the likes of you to taint his memories," Brynhildr warned, her spear raised and pointed.
"Now, now, you Devil, don't start egging my daughter either," Odin said, admittedly relaxed and nonchalant as he knew Lucifer wasn't a warmongering fool as he was just a giant tease. He'd never say this aloud in front of his guards, but Odin would've preferred livelier Kingsguards that could tell a joke and laugh at it.
Lucifer slightly bowed this time, having had his fun, as Odin then sighed, "…Much as I think it's time for her to move on…"
"F-Father?! How could you?!"
In the face of her daughter's look of betrayal and emotional shock, Odin only shrugged like an unconcerned father. "It's been decades, my sweet. Now I understand each individual grieves differently, but you're clinging on to him without the intention of letting go. Live a little, Brynn, is all I'm saying. To you and to all of you here."
Lucifer tilted his head and raised an eyebrow as Odin began his tirade.
"You can protect the Realm but none of you can maintain a relationship to last longer than a month. What's the matter with you people and romance? Eh? You're making it difficult on yourself. Can't find a way to balance your love life with your work? You work four days a week and are secured financially for Yggdrasil's sake…" Odin dejectedly shook his head while his guards, both male and female, all looked down in mute shame. "Can you believe these people? They don't even have to worry about Ragnarok anymore and they still blush like maidens whenever I mention anything remotely vulgar."
"You can't enforce love to bloom, old relic," was all Lucifer said with an air of carefreeness. "Maybe they just haven't found that one special person."
"Or they have but they're being nitpicky about it, and thus losing their chance to someone else more proactive and less wishy-washy. Romanticizer of tragedy, these lots," Odin spat. "No thanks to you, Brynhilde. Blasted Sigurd… Letting you meet him was a grave mistake on my part, and now I have no grandkids to run all over my halls or clamber on top of my head. Wine!"
Odin's thunderous voice reverberated throughout the chamber, reminding everyone that this here was a God that had conquered nine Realms, and decided to be its protector on a whim when he stopped conquering.
Well it wasn't exactly on a whim, but Lucifer wouldn't want to ruin the illusion that Odin was a benevolent man. None of Asgard would believe him anyway.
"Adopt kids," The Devil instead said as he watched a young cupbearer skittered forward, pouring wine on Odin's golden chalice before scampering away to his spot in the background. Lucifer didn't even notice he was ever there. "There's plenty for sale in the orphanage."
"Sales… Orphaned children are not cattles you can buy."
"They are in a certain kind of market," Lucifer shrugged lightheartedly. "Not at all difficult to find on earth. The Vatican practiced it too, until a few years ago. They still would if they were never found out."
"Ergh— if you're here to defile my appetite with your revolting facts then I'll have to give you the boot."
"Only truth can ever be so ugly, is it?" Lucifer smiled. He had gained satisfaction in seeing some of the proud guards looking disturbed, disgusted by humans and their child trafficking nonsense. "But very well."
He swiftly moved along, taking out his necklace and took it off him. "I'll make this quick; you have any idea who did this?"
Odin raised an ashen eyebrow. "Hm? Fancy looking pendant. I never took you one as a jewelry type of person."
"You'd find me sooner dead than to decorate my arms with bangles that shine and block my visage, thank you very much…" Lucifer tossed him the necklace, and Odin caught it mid air. If he didn't, it would've landed right to his patched eye.
"Be more mindful! I expect your utmost care when I agree to be taken on your trip, Lucifer," the stone spoke, much to the Allfather's surprise. "...Lucifer…?"
"I'm all the way over here, Yasaka."
"Lady Yasaka…?" Odin muttered, lifting the pendant closer to his one good eye. "How did you get yourself stuck in there?"
Yasaka sighed exasperatedly. "Why do people think I did this intentionally— I'm not. To whom am I speaking to?"
"This is Odin you're speaking to."
"The Allfather!" Yasaka exclaimed. "About time… I demand for your son Loki to unseal me from this jewel. I expect compensation as well for the humiliations I must endure."
"Loki? But he's in prison," Odin muttered as he glanced at his guards. "...Isn't he? Did he escape again? That slimy weasel…"
"We've tripled our sentries and securities, your Highness," the secretary next to him said. "He's still imprisoned."
"You sure that wasn't one of his mirages?"
"Doubly sure. Lady Brynhildr was the one who checked on him this morning."
Odin shifted towards his daughter. "That true? Brynn?"
"It's true. I met him today. I threw a pebble on his chest as per your request."
Lucifer made a face on hearing that tidbit of information. He had to give it up to Loki for making these elite soldiers toss pebbles like children just to be sure they weren't seeing his astral projection… annoying as it would get. If someone started throwing rocks at him and made it a habit, Lucifer might have to consider jump-starting the Apocalypse by putting a very loud alarm clock next to the sleeping Trihexa. Or build several mosques around the Beast. That should work
"Well… as you can hear, it couldn't have been Loki. I'm assuming you can hear them, Lady Yasaka. It's rather difficult to measure the range of hearing of one residing in a rock."
"It's a gemstone," Yasaka groused. "And I'm trapped, not residing. …Can you do anything about it? Lucifer and Hades both confirmed the seals were one of your kin, Lord Odin."
"And they're not mistaken," Odin affirmed as he broke away a layer of seal that was indeed, of Norse Magic. "Except that it isn't the only seal."
"Hm," Lucifer muttered as he caught the thrown necklace.
"If any brainless ruffians ever throw me again…" Yasaka began in a low, threatening voice. "The moment I am set free, I shall make it my priority to haunt their dreams and have them sealed inside a stone!"
Lucifer promptly ignored her threat, wearing the necklace again. "You should've asked for a favor first before doing that, Odin. You might regret it."
"Hah!" Odin laughed chestily. "Favors between friends? You wound me, Lucifer."
"Friends? Gods no. But business is business."
"You're casting yourself down a lonely road if you only see people as subjects or business partners, boy."
"Or enemies," Lucifer added lightheartedly, evidently unaffected. "But fine, fine… I thank you for your help. Now, if you can tell me where or who I need to see who can remove the rest of these seals, that would also be greatly appreciated."
Odin then grinned. "Now that will cost you a favor."
Lucifer also grinned, though it was more of a lopsided, tightlipped smile. "Go ahead and name it. I'll at least consider it."
The Allfather gave a nod. "Leave us. All of you. Except you, Brynhildr. You stay. This is important."
The valkyries and huscarls nodded as they promptly left the area, marching out in an orderly fashion. His young secretary and that little kid earlier followed them quietly in the back, leaving the golden wine container next to the Allfather.
Lucifer conjured himself a seat. The same one he made back in Erebus, and made himself comfortable on the violently cracking dark cloud. "On to business."
"It's more of a personal request rather than business," Odin said. "Stand closer here next to me, you stubborn daughter of mine. You're not my guard but my daughter right now."
"...What is it then, Father?"
"Why do you look so glum all the sudden," Lucifer said, unsure how to deal with Odin's change of mood.
"Easy now, we'll get there soon enough," Odin replied. "First, can you find Thor for me?"
"Very well," Lucifer nodded as a rift tore through the space next to him, revealing a plane he had created by himself not moments after he attained Godhood. A Realm of eternal hellfire and constant wailing of tormented souls; souls of the damned who could no longer go to Hell as it was no longer a place fit for these vile criminals. He might have forsaken his title as the King of Hell, but he did enjoy his job as his dad's torturer.
It was his brand new Hell, aging hardly a thousand years old. But it was booming. Humans, devils, vampires… any sort of departed souls that didn't belong in any of the afterlife because they were too heinous to deserve redemption was thrown here. It also functioned as a place where he kept his personal army of demons — demons that knew only to serve him, and had no desire to serve the new devils.
So, really, all demons in Hell. The old Hell. He'd have taken Trihexa along too, but as Lucifer wasn't yet certain if he could tame the Beast, as was mentioned during his discussion with Hades; he refrained from making a mistake.
"Cerberus," he called, and three demons with white hair and stylish sets of formal attire popped by the window.
"You called for us, Master?" one of them replied darkly, a spatter of fresh blood dripped freshly off the corner of her lips. Always finding ways to make themselves busy, this hellhound of his.
"Oh? Are you in Asgard? Is it time to add the first Realm under your reign?" Another muttered, perfectly identical in appearance with her siblings. They weren't called the Triple Demon without a reason.
"Excellent choice, Master…" the last of the trio added, baring her fangs as her deep red eyes flashed. "The valkyries of Asgard shall make a suitable test for your new army…"
"Quit it with your nonsense," Lucifer said, unamused, not minding the genuine look of concern he was receiving from Brynhildr. "Find Thor. Bring him to me."
The triplets glanced at each other, before the alpha looked at him. "Alive?"
"Alive."
"Alive," the leader nodded, flattening her wolf ears. "Limbs?"
"Complete and not ripped off. Don't start any problems, don't corrupt any mortals, or I will banish you personally."
"Okay! We fetch!" The three cheered, as the hellhounds rushed into another portal somewhere in the new Hell, and the rift shut soon after.
"Have you decided the name yet?" Odin then asked with the same intensity of someone asking for the weather.
Lucifer shook his head. "Not yet. Never liked naming things. Never since Eden…" By all that is holy and unholy… There were far too many animals back then. His father was anything but easily content.
"Adding -heim on the back makes it twice as intimidating. Just a tip. Hellheim sounds nice, don't you think?"
"That's just your own hell minus an 'l'," replied The Devil. "Come now, you old relic. Don't waste my time. What do you want."
"I'd rather not repeat the words I'm bound to say, Lucifer. We wait for my son."
"What about the other one?"
"I'll see him after this."
It was then the ceiling broke as the blonde God of Thunder stomped down with a perfect heroic landing and pose that amplified his bulging arms muscles. Him and his giant maul, Stormbringer.
The Cerberus did their job. He could hear their prideful howl as they asked him for their treats… Three souls. One for each. He granted them such, and the Triple Demon proceeded to devour three particularly lucky souls, for their torment was about to end in the stomach of Cerberus.
"Well then… Odin, I present you your son," quipped the Archdevil while Odin rubbed his temples over his son's dramatic entrance.
"How many times do I have to say; doors exist for a reason. USE IT."
"Why should I bother with doors when Asgard is in danger?!"
"Because it costs money you nitwit!" Odin seethed, staring up at his new skylight window. "And who ever said Asgard is in danger?"
"There were three demons… they have ears akin to Fenrir's, except white. And they have tails too. They said that the Devil is in Asgard, and that he has an army—"
Lucifer made a face of approval. He did have an army. Just not one he brought with him everywhere. Clever dogs.
"—when I heard that, I had Heimdall bring me through the Bifrost and—" he paused as he finally turned around to see Lucifer, sitting on his floating chair. "Oh, hello Lucifer. I didn't notice you were here."
"Sparkles," Lucifer tipped his chin. "I see you finally got a haircut. I always told you a crop hairstyle looks better than your conditioner hair."
"My thanks. Jane suggested it to me. …Before we broke up. Ahem. It was a mutual dumping, I assure you," Thor replied with a manly nod with his manly beard. "Anyway, Father I—" he snapped back to Lucifer, as his mind finally put two and two together, and realized that what the demons said to him, while the truth, had misled him into thinking Asgard was under attack. "...Oh."
"'Oh' my foot," Odin grumbled. "Do you want to be the God of the Brooms and sweep this place? Someone will have to take care of the mess you made if you never stop to think for a moment."
"My apology. I thought Asgard was in grave danger, so I came here as fast as I could."
"Destroying the roof in the process."
"...I thought that would instill quite the scare in the hearts of my enemies."
Odin rolled his eye. "Do that after confirming they exist in the first place."
"Your brashness aside," said another voice, bringing a much needed femininity to the masculine-riddled air. "It's good to know Asgard remains your main concern, Brother."
"Brinny," Thor nodded at his sister. "Keeping our Father safe?"
"From the dust, I suppose..." Brynhildr said as she spun her spear, controlling the dust from the debris outside.
"Why is he here?" Thor then asked.
"I was thinking of adopting him," Odin replied, much to the God of Thunder's shock.
But Thor calmed himself down, laughing nervously as he did. "Surely you jest."
"Would I? He visits me more often than you do and he has a better sense of direction than you do."
Thor's smile faded as the realization sank. "...No… Not another one. Surely not another!"
"Did you just put me in the same place as Loki?"
"They're a cut of the same cloth," Thor stated, vehemently. "Loki turned me into a frog while he turned himself into a snake. He'll bring nothing but more terror to these lands, Father."
Lucifer reclined on his seat. "I thought it was pretty funny."
"Oh it was hilarious," Odin cackled.
"Mhmm. How nice," Lucifer knew he had to interfere before he caught himself in Odin's family sitcom. "Now that your son's here, I'd extend my stay if I'd like — but I don't. So please? Can we move on?"
Odin nodded, and he gestured to his son. "Sit down, son." Thor took a seat by debris because it had crushed the sofa meant for visitors. "My children. And Lucifer. I fear that a time of conflict will once again present itself in the foothold of not only Asgard, but the rest of the Realms."
Lucifer pressed his lips and crossed his hands. Fair enough, he supposed. He'd stay and listen out of interest. But if Odin was requesting him to come in the defense of Asgard, or any Realms in particular, then the One-Eyed King should already know his answer would be a flat no.
"Again?" Thor said, exasperated. "Who is it now? Hela? Has she come back to life?"
"No. It won't be Hela or Surt. If it was only them, then Asgard is the only Realm in danger. But it is the Beast of Apocalypse itself that is about to wake."
"Trihexa?" Lucifer raised an eyebrow. "Nonsense. Dad sealed it."
"And where is your Father now?"
"Dead, but I don't see the relevance. A watch is still a watch even after its maker is deceased."
"Because he is the only one who can renew the seal," Odin stated, "and seeing that it took him a considerable amount of power that rendered him exhausted for his final battle, I can't imagine you suddenly growing a conscience nor the intention to reinforce said seal with the knowledge of having to forsake a portion of your strength."
As all eyes fell on him, Lucifer's expression was indifferent at most. "Not wrong."
"To think someone so selfish possesses the power of a Protogenoi…" spat Brynhildr with disgust.
The Devil remained unconcerned. "Reality is often disappointing," so he said. "And he was never meant to seal the Beast in the first place. If the Beast stirred then that meant the Apocalypse was in order and had passed its deadline."
"Don't you understand?" Thor rose to him. "Everything you love will die, Lucifer."
"To love means to accept the reality that nothing lasts forever. Not excluding the things you love, o' almighty Thor." His possessions were all in the new Hell anyway… A Realm residing in an entirely new universe of his own, where his rules and laws reigned supreme. It had room if he so wished to toss a few individuals he liked in particular.
"What a lonely life you must have lived."
"Surprisingly never as lonely as your sister. I wonder why… Perhaps because I don't run from reality?"
Brynhildr clicked her tongue.
"Enough," Odin demanded. "...It impresses me that you've fought side by side and yet still you bicker like children."
"Bickering can be healthy, old man," Lucifer said, still with his undisturbed smile. "It's how we vent. Much better than a shouting match that ends in the banishment of one of your sons, at least."
That hurt. "...I never claimed I was a perfect father."
"Maybe not, but you're miles better than mine anyway," The Devil said with a carefree chuckle. "Don't be so hard on your old bones, and let's get back to Trihexa. What makes you believe it's coming? There's a slew of other gods that can seal it."
"None is as powerful as your father was," Odin continued. "And we are getting terribly old, Lucifer," he added with an ironic laugh. "You're still the youngest of God. Protogenoi or not. You've experienced nothing of the gradual depreciation of your powers, especially felt with the decay of your followers."
"Hence why I aimed for dad, yes, but what of it? There's Ophis and Great Red still. Someone can coerce them to fight for the good of existence… I suppose."
"You can convince a snake to walk. Why don't you?"
Lucifer shot a disappointed glance at Thor. "Because I was meant to bring the Apocalypse, Captain Asgard. It was part of my duty and I don't intend to besmirch my flawless execution of my duties, even if it does upset you that some people may die. That aside, while it is no longer my responsibility as who I am now, I'm not responsible for the fate of the entire universe. Ask other Protogenoi. Go ahead and ask Chaos. They'll give you the same answer."
"They are they and you are you! Billions will die, and you choose not to act?!"
"Billions are still part of some."
"The Underworld won't be safe from this either, Lucifer," Brynhildr pointed out.
"Still part of some."
Thor clutched his hammer. "Don't you want to be remembered as a hero for once?!"
"Why would I want to be remembered by a bunch of corpses? And heroes? I have been a hero. Quite plenty of times, actually. People just hate to admit it because I am who I am."
The Valkyrie glared along with her brother. "...A heartless scum."
"And yet somehow I know how to love better. Much better than one with a broken heart."
One of his greatest pride was remaining calm and collected while others got madder and madder. It was like watching them dig deeper into their grave while he sat there on the surface with his folding chair, cheering them on with a glass of lemonade and a pair of raybans.
"That's enough, children," Odin had to say, reeling their leashes. "What I ask of you is to be prepared when the time comes. You will fight alongside the other Pantheons; they too will have sensed it. Asgard will never fall as long as you stand. Even if destroyed, we may seek a new home."
"I understand, Father."
"I understand," Brynhildr nodded firmly, whereas Lucifer was eyeing Odin with a newfound skepticality.
"I love you, and that's all. You may leave now. I wish to speak with the Devil alone."
"But Father—"
"ALONE."
Stiffening at Odin's commanding voice, his two least rowdy children excused themselves out of the office, strutting around the debris as they exited the room.
Lucifer's eyes never left Odin's unpatched one. His smoldering gaze would have unnerved most men, but Odin was no mere man.
"I know you're dying, you old coot," Lucifer broke the silence, unamused. "You can play pretend and fool everyone else and even your own blood, but not me."
"Of course not. Whoever can fool the Prince of Lies and Forgery?"
"Save your jokes. Enough with the whole 'I don't want to admit I'm dying' part. Melodramatic as it is, it's unnecessary."
"Not even gods may decide what is necessary and what is not," Odin said, looking into the distant star; Asgard's sun, tucked above the brilliant skies, beaming over the rolling hills and misty mountains. "Is it me or you're actually concerned about me for once, Lucifer? Or is it a concern about yourself? That the old guards are gradually shifting to become history? While here you shall remain… embarked on a journey with no clear end in sight…"
Lucifer frowned. What was it with gods and parting monologue whenever it was nearing their time?
"Spare me your flowery words," he told Odin. "How long do you have?"
Odin sighed. "I've heard Frigg calling for me. In my dreams. When I'm awake," he stared at a moving art on the wall, a moving picture of Frigg, his late wife, riding next to him unto the pearly gates of Valhalla.
To Lucifer, it was just a wall.
"I might have extended it a little," the Allfather exhaled, his eyes still gazing to the distance.
"Your kids can take care of themselves."
"I know," Odin said. "Doesn't mean I stop worrying for them."
"As much as you hate appearing weak in front of your children, they deserve to know their Allfather won't be the Allfather for long."
"How surprisingly heartfelt from you, Lucifer? You nearly made me believe you cared for my kids."
"I don't," Lucifer said without a shred of embarrassment. "But I do have an inkling of what makes a good father and the cause of horrible sons, and I'd rather not find myself explaining to Thor I have nothing to do with his father's death. You need to tell them. It'll lessen the blow. It'll give them time to cope, and it'll cross me out as a suspect."
Odin let loose of a sigh, staring at the fine Devil before him. Such a waste, what Yahweh did to him. Banishing him from Heaven and forcing him to be an executor for vile souls unworthy of Heaven. He could have become so much more. Much, much more… Loki was one of Odin's greatest regrets, and he couldn't help but think to himself if Loki was his Lucifer, and if he had disappointed him as much as Yahweh had disappointed Lucifer.
But even still, Lucifer was no Loki. Others claimed he was as twisted if not more, but Odin understood that the Devil had simply done things out of necessities. There was a necessity for evil, no matter where, no matter what Realms. There would always be a necessity for the scapegoat.
Odin thought it was a terrible mistake Yahweh had made for picking Helel, but it seemed that Lucifer understood it better than even the Allfather.
No one could have become a better Devil than him. It had to be him. Anyone else would have gotten it wrong.
"Now then," Lucifer shoved one hand into his suit's front pocket. "Your favor…? I hope you know a favor won't make me attend your funeral."
"Bah, you won't even if I begged. Traditions are all too boring for you younguns nowadays." Odin laughed, unafraid even in the face of death.
The Devil sighed. "What do you want from me then. They're gone; your kids. No one's listening but me, if you don't want any of them eavesdropping."
Oding steadied his gaze. "I want you to take my daughter with you."
Lucifer winced.
"Now before you jerk away and refuse, let me explain; Thor has found his reason to live and to protect Earth. Loki will… well… Loki will try to retake Asgard, but he'll protect it from destruction. But Brynhildr… She's still so young. So brittle. Her heart has yet mended even after all this time. Should the Apocalypse happen, and should she survive, if too many have fallen, I'm afraid she won't have the strength to carry on."
Lucifer was about to explain to Odin why this was a bad idea until he continued. "Tinker with her memory. Make her forget, but take her with you. Let one of my blood survive, Lucifer. Bring her to a new universe. That's all I ask of you."
The Devil stared at him, before he sighed softly as his expression softened. Not too soft, but at least he wasn't staring at Odin as though he had kicked his dog.
"You have my word."
"Alive, Lucifer."
Lucifer smirked. "Alive."
"Excellent," Odin smiled as on top of his palm formed a small piece of paper, flickering with golden embers. "Now, regarding your fox friend's seals… Here are the few names I can give you, but you want to start with Zeus."
Lucifer took the piece of paper, and there went his smirk. Replaced with a neutral scowl. "Ergh great… One bearded man to another. I won't be surprised if I have to dig up dad's body at the end."
"He doesn't have a body. Isn't he made of the First Light?"
"Purely a metaphor," Lucifer muttered, a bit disappointed Odin failed to catch it, but then again, subtlety was never one of Asgardians' strongest suits. Case in point; Loki. He was Jotun. "And he was the First Light."
Odin blandly nodded. "Hmm… What about your empire, hm? Don't you at least want to save it?"
Lucifer's reply was equally as bland. "Nah."
"If not from Trihexa, then from those chaos loons."
"Who?"
"The Khaos Brigade," Odin scratched his magnificent salt-and-pepper beard. "Haven't caught wind of them?"
Oh. Them. "Of course I have, I just couldn't find it in me to care," Lucifer stated with frank honesty. "If the Underworld falls by a band of nitwits, then perhaps they don't deserve to remain standing to begin with."
The Allfather's laughter was boisterous. Loud and slightly obnoxious, but it was genuine. "Hah! Never have I met a King without a kingdom so unconcerned of his last."
"They had decades of peace. It'll be a good test for them," The Crownless King said. "Shave away a few of the population… More rooms for the young to grow. Defensive wars have a greater effect towards national unity, I've found, perhaps the politicians will finally agree on something and stop playing their stupid Rating Game."
"You don't approve of the Rating Game?"
"It's a stupid method of solving a problem. The strongest will always win, not necessarily the one who is right. It's a terrible choice. A disappointing choice. They think they're rising yet they fail to realize they have been in decline ever since the Great War."
"Ever since you left, you mean."
"Of course," Lucifer chuckled. "I was their last true king. Without me, they'd stayed a rabble."
At that, Odin could only shake his head in disbelief and morbid admiration. "Your cruel, condescending way of seeing things makes no sense."
"Well it would if you were as wise as they said," Lucifer said smoothly as he got up from his seat. The clouds fizzled away the moment his dress shoes met the marble floor. What was it with gods and marbles…? "If that's all, then I'll be taking my leave. …I got a fox in a rock and another that is keeping my bedside warm."
"Amulet!"
"Wait," Odin said. "There's another."
"What. Now."
"Take Rossweisse with you."
That name rang no bell whatsoever, as made evident by the Devil's expression.
"She's my secretary," Odin added.
Lucifer lowered his black brows, reconsidering if he should grant the god his favors. "And why would I."
"She's smart and has a natural talent with Magics. Seals, protection, any kind that Norse specializes in, I believe she can make it better and more efficient."
"Good for her."
Odin raised a finger. "I'm not finished. She's a very diligent soul. A hard-worker. The special kind. But she's spent all her youth studying, you see… and… Well, she's Göndul's granddaughter, but she struggles to… let's say, fit in with her fellow valkyries, due to her serious nature. When I depart, she has nowhere to go but her home."
"A geek," the Devil said with disinterest, making a 'are you for real?' kind of exasperated face. "You're asking me to take a geek with me so she can nerd out."
"Come on… she's not that nerdy."
"I can sniff out lies, Odin Borson."
"Fine," Odin admitted with a huff. "She is that nerdy. But she's still a good kid, Luci. She even created her own magic crest since her family couldn't pass down theirs. I've wanted to give her a greater task than nagging about some bills needing my concern, but at this rate, the greatest task I've given her would be just that."
"Why not have her ferry souls like what your valkyries are supposed to do."
"There's no longer a need for a great deal of heroes."
"No villains competent enough. I can fix that."
"Now don't you get ominous on me, Lucifer," Odin said threateningly as he clasped his spear, Gungnir, which sparked with thunder. "I might be old and dying, but I can still smite you in my Realm."
Tempting as it was, The Devil had no interest in a one-sided match against a god with one foot inside his death's door.
"I'll be nice," was what Lucifer said. "And I still have yet to hear a good reason other than I should take her out of pity."
"It won't be out of pity. She can help you and Lady Yasaka's predicament. She's an expert in magical stuff."
"Even if she is, I'm plenty of an expert myself. Taking her along will only diminish her confidence in the only thing she's good at, Odin. I don't intend to act incompetent just so I can please a girl."
"You won't have to. She's an eager learner. She can learn from you."
"I don't need an apprentice."
"An assistant."
"I can do my job to perfection without help. And I doubt valkyries can stomach torturing souls as a living."
"That's a demon's job, not a valkyrie."
"My point exactly, and a valkyrie's job is to guide a hero's soul, not tag along with the Devil. All she will do is slow me down. Do you want me to tell her that?"
"Lucifer. Please. I owed Göndul at least this much. Her granddaughter is oscatrized. The other valkyrie will only tease her and belittle her if she stays here."
"Sounds to me you need a better flock of valkyries. I can fix that."
"Just take her along, you goddamn prideful devil," Odin grumbled, successfully losing his patience. "If not willingly then as my last favor from you. Let her study the amulet occasionally and take her to places where she can expand her knowledge on your leisure. That's all I ask."
"...Fine, fine," Lucifer sighed, wearier than the last. "You have my resentful cooperation. But only because you're about to die and this will be your final request from me."
"Good. I'll tell her later and you can pick her up tomorrow. Didn't have to be so hard now, did it?" Odin smiled in satisfaction as he clasped his wrinkly hands. Lucifer might be the Amalgamation of Pride, which was why getting a favor from him always brought him with a certain kind of smug joy.
"So what have you tried with that thing? Have you tried cracking it open?"
"I did, actually," confirmed Lucifer, glancing down at his chest, seeing only his perfectly ironed shirt and tie. "Yasaka stopped me. I was probably cracking everything in it as well rather than just the seals."
"He was," Yasaka chided, her voice a bit muffled by his shirt but nonetheless audible. "The sky split and there was an earthquake. You could've killed me if I didn't stop you, Lucifer."
"Well you did and I didn't, and you're still alive to chastise me about it. I'd be more than delighted if you wish to smother me to death with your tails."
"In your dreams."
That word sparked an idea to life in Odin's head. "Ah, have you tried sleeping while having it put on?"
"I don't need sleep."
"That's not my question. Have you?" Odin insisted.
"No. Why? Should I?"
"You should try," the Allfather suggested, reclining on his expensively comfy chair. "There were times where Gods visited a mortal through their dream by possessing a piece of jewelry."
Lucifer thought about it, and decided it was dumb. "Why the roundabout way?"
"We liked to be mysterious back then," Odin said, defensively. "We weren't always the wisest, alright? And back then, humans were more superstitious. Their reactions were always wildly panicking out of control whenever they saw a god in the flesh."
"...Ah right…I remember that time…" A nostalgic smile was about to rise, but Lucifer killed it by remembering Michael's face. "Simpler times. Stranger times."
"Give it a try. At worst you'll waste an insignificant portion of your extensive life. Barely a grain in your sands of time."
Assuming he still had an hourglass of time. If he had, then it would be quite a gigantic hourglass.
"Sure. I'll sleep tonight," he supposed there wasn't any hurt in it. "Is there anything else or can I finally leave?"
"There is… another. One last request."
Lucifer's sigh was getting wearier by the moment.
"Was I a good father, Lucifer?"
The Devil's crimson eyes went straight to Odin's last eye. "That's something you ask your kids, not me."
"Humor me," Odin pleaded. "Was I?"
At that, Lucifer let out a brief sigh. "Yes, Odin. Yes you were a good father. Although I'm inclined against saying otherwise as that'd likely break your heart."
Odin smiled. "Then that is all."
Lucifer paused. A part of him didn't want the conversation to end just yet. But a major part of him; his stubborn pride, prevented him from extending his stay more than necessary.
"I see."
For a moment, the Devil and the Allfather exchanged a stare without saying a word. One last look held with high regards to each other, as an unspoken goodbye and the acknowledgement of the fact that the next time they saw each other again, one would not be able to return their quips. There was no sadness. No joy of remembering the old times. Not tears, no look of longing. Only mutual respect towards one another, for having survived through the tumultuous ages.
And for a blink of a moment, Lucifer wondered what could have been if Odin was his father. Would he have become The Devil then?
"Farewell, Lucifer."
Well. He shall never know.
But The Devil knew he would remember him.
"Rest well, Old Man."
Odin nodded.
"You will be missed. I thank you on behalf of my people."
Odin blinked. "Oh right. You were here."
"I take my gratitude back."
Lucifer chuckled as a whirling vortex then seized him up, swallowing him whole, departing him from the Realm of Asgard. Within the very next instance, Lucifer found himself standing before a familiar bedroom, where a certain lonely kitsune had waited for his arrival, anxiously combing down her tails.
His sight brought her immediate joy as Tamamo reverted herself into her true self, leaping out of the traditional Japanese bedroll to skip her way towards the Archdevil, her two auburn tails wildly swishing side to side, never bothering their happiness.
"Welcome back—mmnh!" She would have welcomed him properly with a proper hug if Lucifer didn't lift her off her feet and sealed her lips. Her soft, soft lips, that his tongue would soon parted to take in her warmth.
Tamamo was fully flushed when he broke the kiss, fanning her face with her hand. "O-Oh my… I thought I was the one who was terribly missing the other…"
"Zip it, fox," Lucifer harshly said as he, with one deft movement of his finger, tugged the hem of Tamamo's blue kimono and unraveled her body.
"Get to bed." He nudged his head to the futon. "I'll love you like no other."
Such treatment only increased the kitsune's excitement as both of her ears and tails stiffened. "Mikon~! Lady Yasaka, please close your ears!"
"Ergh… at least take me off before you do the deed."
"I thought you liked to watch?"
"Except I can't see anything but the stars!"
Maybe Lucifer felt a bit sad and wanted to drown his sorrow by partaking in a particular activity that required at least another soul. Long lasting friends were quite difficult to come by these days. He thought he had gotten used to it. Well, he was wrong for once.
To be continued…
Oh the world might end? Who cares? I got a fox in a rock — Lucifer, probably, with similar energy of Jack Sparrow showing off his jar of dirt
Chapter title is old friends and new, because old friends represent Odin and his children while new is Rossweisse although she's just a nameless cameo. Chapter title also means i'm smurt and i wanna make my titles meaningful
Cerberus made a cameo, and yes, I didn't make them all cute and clumsy as plenty of helltaker fanarts made them. I like 'em a lil bit on the twisted side of things — which made sense. They have to enjoy working in New Hell
Did Yasaka have no comment on Lucifer's decision of not acting? Well, of course she has, one that they will discuss in the next chapter, which means yes. Yes Lucifer is going to enter his dreamland and meet the fox wife for the first time in the story, and personally enjoy her fluff
You all know Thor and Odin. I took marvel's version padded with my own twist because, frankly, dxd ruined Odin by turning him into a heartless perverted old geezer that paid Rossweisse a minimum wage and treated her like ass
Like c'mon. Rossweisse might not be the best girl but she deserved better than being the constant buttmonkey — and her 'I HAVE NO BF WOE IS ME' got stale after… after the first one, tbh
Brynhildr, on the other hand, is straight from Fate/go, just like Tamamo. Go ahead and google her if you wanna see how she looks because fucking hell, I am never gonna describe anyone's clothes or hair unless it's ever relevant.
She is a character in dxd, and i don't think there are fics with her as a focus anyway. And I think she and Lucifer would make an interesting love-hate pairing. Kind of the 'go away, i hate you, but i hate that you're the one that knows how to comfort me' kind of thing.
How do you find Lucifer's personality so far? I think he's unique even as a standalone OC. He's got his own set of rules that he follows and if other people don't like it, then so be it. he isn't a moody teenager like my first rendition of Lucifer like a guest reviewer has mentioned, which I 100% agree with, and still wonder to this day how the fuck it has 3000+ followers and still increasing to this day. He's way less flamboyant too and straight to the point.
He's more like Supernatural's version of Lucifer… except less obviously evil and less 'i want to kill god and mankind', and more 'let's see how they manage to fuck up big time this time'
Is he evil though? He's obviously not good but he isn't 'imma fuck shit up huheuehue' evil either. He just liked making other people think he's up to no good. Y'know, making them paranoid. Which is exactly what he wanted, because it makes him feel superior. Sort of like 'lol u thought i'd put an effort? for you? That's cute'
It's like the old question of 'if the devil is the one punishing the bad guys, wouldn't that make him the good guys?'
The answer would be an obvious no because the devil enjoys it. A half-yes if he hates it. Yes if he's punishing them because they deserve just so
This Lucifer? Ehh…. somewhere between yes and half yes. He doesn't enjoy torture, he doesn't hate it that the thought of it revolts him, and he likes it when evil people get their just dessert. So idk. You decide
Appearance wise, ehhh… Just think of Aizen from the anime Bleach: Tide Pods:The Movie, and replace his brown hair with black, and cut away the dangly bits of his hair which I think is kinda stupid and over the top I am-become-bad-guy-therefore-new-hair — thematic with bleach ig
Will Lucifer ever re-seal Trihexa?
Nope. He hates people. He wants them gone but doesn't want to be the one to do it because they're not worth the effort in his eyes. dude doesn't even care about his own 'people'. If they die they die. He'd cheer Thanos with a big pink glove hand if this was an avengers comic
Will he help the good guys if Trihexa got free?
Prolly not, but he has no interest in being a hindrance either so there's that. He's like a spectator of a game where he doesn't really care which one's winning since he's just there to watch and spend some of his time. If everybody dies then oh well, suck to be them, but if everybody lives then oh well, good for them, time for a nap.
Obviously things may change if somebody or anything decided to push his berserk button — which is ruining his suit or messing up his hair. Not even god can save them then.
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