Ollie had woken up folded like a lawn chair. Needless to say, it was hell on his back. As his eyes broke open, the crust around his eyes falling away, he realized where he was.

The van.

'Right. Azazel...' His body twitches to life, and his jostling ends up rousing Azazel from her slumber as well. He groans, realizing that sometime in the night, he had ended up using Azzy's head like a pillow. In a rather awkward position, they were damn near cuddling. "Azzy, up and at 'em hun." He shakes her gently.

"Nuhh..." She groans, yawning as she stretches out her arms.

"Azazel, we gotta' get up. We been sleeping in the van all night." He shakes her once more, making an attempt at waking the angel in his lap.

"Five more minutes..." She pleads, nestling her face into his thighs.

He sighs, throwing his head back. "Azzy, we gotta' face the music. After we tell everyone what's up you can go take a nap, 'kay?"

"Aww, okay..." She pouts, dragging herself up, before yawning yet again.

"I hope nobody was looking for us, last night..." Ollie pales, climbing out of the van, pacing around it. In his mind, the image of Malina beating him over the head flashes. 'Yeah, definitely hope they aren't too pissed at me.' He thinks.

"Azazel, before we go in there... tell me what happened, exactly. That way I can maybe, I dunno? Help explain what the situation is." He asks. She noticeably withers a bit, at the mention of yesterday's events. 'Fuckin' hell, it must be real serious.'

"My supervisor Archangel Michael, she... she told me that due to my being exposed to such a large amount of sin, I was being corrupted. She ordered me to return to Heaven, else I would fall." She begins. "But... falling is just a myth! I don't know why she would lie to me! Isn't lying a sin in itself?" Azazel stammers, struggling to grasp the situation at hand. "She said that if I were to remain, I would surely become a demon. But if I had returned to heaven, I could be redeemed in the eyes of the Lord." She finishes, eyes beginning to water. He brings her in for a brief hug, running a hand through her hair. As he does so, he notices something strange. A single, out-of-place grey hair.

"It's okay, Azzy. I told you, we'll figure this all out. Trust me." He promises, parting from her. "Come on, the sooner we get in there, the sooner we can figure this all out. Together."

Quietly, they enter the house proper. Of course, their attempts at stealth are immediately foiled by none other than Judgement.

"INTRUDERS!" She all but howls, pouncing on them at a moment's notice. She knocks Ollie to the ground, brandishing her razor-sharp gauntlets at Azazel. It takes Judgement but a brief moment to realize who it is, and quickly climbs off of Ollie.

"Ourrghhh..." Ollie groans, dazed as Judgement peels him from the carpet. "You hit hard." He whines.

"OLLIE, AZAZEL! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN!? WE SEARCHED FOR YOU ALL NIGHT!" She bellows, as Ollie and Azazel shield their ears from her booming voice.

"We'll explain everything, just please stop shouting." He asks, trembling just a bit from the fear that comes from pissing off the High Prosecutor.

"Oh, apologies. We were worried sick. Where were you two?" She interrogates.

"...You didn't check the van?" Ollie asks, dumbfounded. They were literally in the house. Did they not look there?

"...Shut up." Judgement blushes. It was always the last place they'd have thought to look.

He sighs, shaking his head in disbelief. "Like I said, we'll explain everything. It's big, though. Real big. Can you maybe... wrangle everyone up? House meeting?" He requests, pacing to the fridge and cracking an energy drink.

"I can. Should we be worried?" Judgement wonders.

"Uhh... possibly. Maybe. Yeah." He shrugs, sheepishly.

"Did you get into trouble?" She narrows her eyes, readying to dole out her staple punishment of chaining him to the aptly-named "Punishment Sofa."

"Er, no? Not that I remember." He winces.

She narrows her eyes once more, before setting out to gather the harem.

"Phew." He exhales a breath of pure relief. 'Peace at last.' He thinks to himself.

That peace is immediately disturbed by the sound of angry footsteps.

"Do you want to tell me where you and Azazel were last night?" None other than Malina practically seethes. Ah, y'see, this? This is exactly what he was afraid of.

"Before you smack me around like a ten-dollar whore, let me explain?" He asks, nervous at the prospect of an impending ass-kicking at the hands of his... girlfriend? He wasn't quite sure what they really were at this point.

"You have 30 seconds." She crosses her arms, a sandal in one of her hands, suffering from her white-knuckled grip. Azzy takes this as her cue to shuffle away from the situation settling on the sofa in the living room.

"Azazel has a problem. She's... pretty beaten up about it. It might affect all of us. We were in the garage, slept in the van. No, we didn't get up to any funny business. And no, Azazel is not okay." He rushes out, holding his hands up as though he were surrendering.

She remains silent, before uncrossing her arms and stepping towards him. Ollie flinches.

Malina pulls him into a hug, whispering into his ear. "I was worried you got yourself killed, you damn moron." She confesses, burying her face into the crooks of his neck. He pats her on the back.

"Thanks for worrying about me, Mal. I appreciate it. We should be worrying about Azazel, right now. She's in a really bad place." He tells her, placing what he had thought to be a small, inconspicuous kiss on her forehead.

Precisely when Zdrada happens to walk in. If he had needed any more proof that the last 48 hours were against him, he had gotten it.

A shit-eating smirk splits her face, and as she moves her mouth to say something presumably antagonistic, he glares at her.

"Not now." He mouths. "Later."

She makes a motion as if zipping her mouth closed. Thank fuck, the last thing this morning needed was another confrontation.

He releases Malina, just in time as the others slowly begin to file in.

As he guzzles down the last of his egregiously sugar-laden beverage, he notices Taker approaching from the corner of his eye. He leans against the wall. "So kid, what's this about?"

"Ugh. Okay, so... you remember what happened yesterday with Azazel?" He asks. Taker nods. "Well, while I was out, I found her. Er- she found me, I guess. She was a complete mess, sobbing and stuff. We'll explain everything, but the short of it is she's... falling. Something like that. The angels want her to go back to Heaven." He explains. Taker growls, and the air around them changes immediately, replaced with a miasma of pure anger. If he hadn't known any better, he'd almost assume his uncle was about to go and kick down the pearly gates all by his lonesome. "Uncle, uncle!" Ollie calms him. "We're gonna' lay everything out for the rest of the house, okay? Discuss our options, things like that. Let cooler heads prevail."

Taker eases up, but not by much. "I don't like this, kid."

"Pft. Yeah, you and me both." Ollie scoffs. "Everyone's here, looks like. Let's get this show on the road."

It had taken a while to gather the entire household into the living room, what with his uncle and Modeus being... busy with their morning routine, and wrangling Cerberus and getting them to sit still was a Herculean task for the demons, let alone him. Still, after everyone had their breakfast and such, they all agreed to gather together to hear what Ollie and Azazel had to say.

Of course, they hadn't taken it seriously, at first. They had yet to start explaining the situation, and they were all hedging their bets on what they had to say. Some had bet on it being "Research"-related, but Taker, Malina and Justice had known better, at least.

"All right, listen up." Ollie calls, leaning against the countertop as he cracks open yet another energy drink. "Let's make this quick. We have a big problem. And it's one that requires immediate attention. Azazel, the floor is yours."

She bashfully steps forward, unsure of herself. This was going to be difficult to talk about, but Ollie had assured her that there was something that could be done about her situation, and if there was anyone she could believe it was him. "Yesterday a messenger from Heaven came to me while I was shopping with Mr. Taker and Miss Justice, informing me of urgent matters that needed to be attended to." She starts. A few of the demons bristle at this, but none pipe up. She takes this as a cue to continue. "They informed me that, as a result of my close proximity to you all, I was being corrupted. They want to take me back to Heaven." She finishes. "B-but falling isn't real... right? They just want to take me away because they don't want me staying with demons!"

"Let me stop you right there." Lucifer begins. "Falling is very much a reality. I was once an angel, until I challenged 'His' authority. As was Judgement." She gestures to the grey-skinned demon, who shuffles in her seat uncomfortably. "If you have not yet begun to fall, then you may be safe. However, if your hair has already begun to grey, and your halo has begun to crack, there's nothing that can be done for you. You'll be too far gone, at that point." She says, plainly.

"But I'm pure! I'm an angel! S-surely they would not cast me away so readily!" She begins to breathe just a bit faster than before as the nerves begin to set in. Ollie steps forward, resting a hand on her shoulder to keep her grounded. "I don't believe you! I am a child of God!" She shuts her eyes tight, refusing to even cast a glance at the others.

"Oh, but they would, child." Lucifer stands, beginning to remove her coat. "I, too, was 'His' child."

"What are you doing?!" Ollie demands, averting his eyes.

"You'll see." Is all she says, as she unbuttons her shirt, removing it. She turns her back to Azazel, showcasing a pair of jagged scars running down her back. "These are the scars where my wings used to reside. Before 'He' ripped them from my back. Judgement bears the same scars, as well." She explains, before dressing herself. "The punishment for falling is great, and terrible. An example must be made for those who go against the word of God, and so our wings are torn from us. Our halos begin to crack, eventually shattering." She steps towards Azazel, looking her in the eyes.

"If you fall, the same will happen to you Azazel. It will happen if you stay here, with us." She asserts. "I won't lie, we would be all be rather pleased if you fell. It's in our nature to corrupt."

"But you'd also miss her if she left, right?" Ollie grits.

"That too." Lucifer smirks.

"Is there any way she can stay here without falling?" Ollie asks, sighing. "Any way to reverse it if it happens?"

"Not to our knowledge, no. If it were possible, Heaven surely would have tried it by this point."

"Right, so let's go over our options..." Ollie steps away. "One. Azazel leaves. But she doesn't turn. Two. Azazel falls, but she gets to stay with us."

Overwhelmed, Azazel falls to her knees. "I... I want to stay. But I can't fall! I won't..." She protests, weakly.

"Azazel, in a perfect world, that'd be the case. But we have to be realistic." Taker enters the conversation, giving his two cents. "Unless kicking down Heaven's gates are an option."

"I gotta' agree with the big guy. You know where we all stand. We'd rather you fall, and stay here." Justice admits. The demons utter some form of agreeance, except Zdrada, who silently puffs of a cigarette.

"Imagine all the fun things we could do..." Modeus wipes the drool from her lip. Pandemonica nods, a mean grin crawling across her visage. "All the sinful, perverted things I could show you."

"You could further your demonology research. Who better to research demons than a demon?" Lucifer purrs. "You'd have access to knowledge only demons are privy to."

Ollie shushes them. "Guys, it's her choice." He turns to the angel. "Azazel, I hate to admit, but I think they're right. I'd rather not see you leave, but it'll be difficult. Like I said, it's your life, your choice. Just know we won't think of you any different, no matter what you are." He smiles.

Her eyes water, and she throws herself into Ollie, clutching him like a lifeline. Silently, Malina frowns just a bit more than she was before, which Ollie picks up on.

"I think... I should think on it. It's a big decision, after all." Azazel says, separating from Ollie. "Thank you all." She bids adieu, sniffling as she trudges up the stairs.

Ollie sighs, holding his face in his hands as he waits to hear the sound of Azazel's bedroom door close. "Be honest. Do you guys just want to corrupt her, or do you guys just want her to be able to stay?"

Monica hums, taking a sip of her (blacker than black) coffee, leans back in her seat. "The little angel can be... frustrating at time. But she has her uses. And I must admit, she's been pleasant most of the time, helping me with paperwork and the like."

"And it's pretty cool having someone who isn't always in a bad mood around." Justice admits.

"Eh, I don't care." Zdrada, bitchy as ever, just huffs as she puts out her cigarette on the arm of the couch. A vein bulges on Taker's forehead.

"How many times have I told you to stop smoking in the house?" He glares at her, inches from her face.

"What? You gonna punish me? Do it-" She teases.

"Guys, we're getting off-topic." Ollie interrupts. "Judgement, your thoughts?

"I'D HATE-" She begins to shout, before Ollie shushes her. "Er, I'd hate to see her go through what I went through. She's been nothing but kind, if a bit awkward. I would not wish falling on anyone." She says, crossing her arms in thought.

"If she decides to stay, you'd probably be the best person to help guide her through... whatever happens to her." Ollie sighs.

"She should stay!" One of Cerb's bodies proclaims. The other two give a whole-hearted "Yeah!" and a "She can help us corrupt the mortal realm!"

"Malina, what's your take on this?"

"She should go."

"Ok- what?" Ollie asks, dumbfounded.

"She doesn't want to fall, so she should go. It's not like she can't make friends up in Heaven." She shrugs. Immediately, Ollie realizes.

'Huh, is she... jealous?' He thinks, in complete disbelief.

"I get what you're saying." He shrugs. "So far, the common consensus is that most of us want her to stay. Think about it, she's practically family." He explains. "Tell me you wouldn't miss her at all."

She doesn't reply, instead opting to storm up to her room, muttering.

"Huh. Wonder what that was about." Modeus says. "She's so hot when she's angry..."

'Oh, Modeus, you almost went a sentence without being horny.' Ollie thinks, aggravated by her complete inability to reign in her horniness.

"Alright, y'know what? Fuck it. I'm calling this meeting." He rubs his temples. "Popular vote is that we mostly want her to stay. That means if she decides she wants to stay at the cost of falling, we help her to the best of our abilities. If you can't help," He narrows his eyes towards Zdrada. "then stay out of the way." With the meeting adjourned, the others quickly flee the scene. All but Zdrada, that is.

"Who the hell put you in charge?" Zdrada cackles.

"Zdrada, putting aside all the times you've injured me, if you in any way make things worse for Azazel, I'll find some way to make you suffer." He clenches his teeth. Before she can retort, he adds "In a way you won't enjoy."

"Heh, yeah. Like you could." She challenges, leaning forward as she lights yet another cigarette. "So... you and Malinka, huh?" She sneers, a twinkle of cruel glee in her eye.

"I'll break every one of your goddamn smokes." He hisses, leaning in.

"I'll break every one of your fingers." Zdrada growls.

"Not if I break them first."

"...What?" Zdrada asks, confused.

"You heard me." He leans back, widening into a powerstance.

She stares for a moment in confusion, before huffing a half-hearted "Whatever dude." and going out to the backyard.

"Heh. Score one for Ollie." He laughs, crossing his arms triumphantly.

Triumphant until he remembers Malina storming off, that is.

"Oh, goddamnit." He grouses. "Guess I'll see what's up."

…...

"Delivery for Malina." He calls, knocking on the door, brandishing a fancy bottle of Belvedere Heritage. A bottle which he had dropped $60 on. He had planned on giving this to her on a special occasion admittedly, but he figured whatever it was that had her upset might be assuaged with the bribe of fancy vodka.

After all, what couldn't be fixed with some good vodka and video games?

The door creeps open, Malina peeking through the crack. She looks back and forth, before pulling him in.

"Ah- what is it with you and pulling me in here? I can walk in just fine." He complains, rubbing at his collar. He holds the bottle out, offering it to her. "Here, I was saving this for like, Christmas or your birthday or whatever. But something was bothering you, so I figured this'd cheer you up."

"Nothing was bothering me, but thanks, I guess." She says, taking the bottle from him. She drops down on her couch, patting the spot next to her. He obliges, dropping down next to her before snaking his arm around her waist.

"Something was. Don't think you'd just storm off like that if you were fine. Look, I admit we still dunno each other that well. But I've spent enough time around you to know that something was up." He grunts, gestures to the bottle. "Wanna crack into it, by the way?"

"Sure." She mutters. "And fine, you want to know what was bothering me?"

"Lay it on me, baby." He sighs, sitting crisscross. "Whatever it is, I'm happy to listen."

"I don't like how close you were getting to Azazel." She says, cracking the cap of the bottle, taking a sip and offering it to him.

"Okay, I hear ya'." He takes it, promptly taking a hefty swig. "Look, here's the thing. Azazel is a part of this... 'family', or whatever you'd call this whole thing. I don't think anyone wants her to leave, y'know? Her whole identity is based off of being an angel. Being pure, incorruptible. She's facing down the possibility of having all that torn away from her. It's like if Judgement had her job as High Prosecutor taken away. I don't think they know who they really are beneath that."

"I guess." She shrugs, taking the bottle from him.

"Look, I promise you don't have to worry, okay? Azazel is an angel. I don't think there's anything between me and her besides something platonic."

"What if there isn't? What if she falls? Then what?" Malina asks. Ollie isn't sure how to respond.

"I'm not sure." He admits. "All there is right now is you and me. And I'm okay with that. I don't know how you feel about having, well... more than just us involved in uhh... whatever we are. But if you just want it to be us? Ollie and Malina? That's okay with me too."

She pulls from the bottle, tipping it up as the alcohol burns its way down her throat. "Damn, good stuff." She compliments.

"Figured you'd like it." He smirks. "Look, I'm gonna be honest. I like Azazel. She's... well, she's nice. Par for the course for an angel, I guess. If she did fall, and if things were like that between us, I wouldn't mind including her in our... relationship. But that's not only my choice to make." He explains, turning on the LED lights in the room and switching them to red. "So, tell me, what are your thoughts? Whatever it is, it's okay. Just be real with me here."

She places the bottle down on the coffee table, leaning against Ollie's shoulder. "She's annoying, she constantly bothers me to ask questions, and she's naïve as all hell." She grumbles. "But if you like her, that's fine I guess."

"Well, I don't want to be closer to her if it means losing you, y'know?" He mutters, pulling her closer. She scoffs.

"Pfft." Malina pulls away to look at him. "Who says you're gonna lose me?"

"Aww." He swoons. "You're sweet." She punches him in the chest.

"Shut up, you cheesy bastard."

"You like it." He laughs.

She doesn't make any attempt to refute that notion.

"Either way, with things as they are now, Azazel is facing down some serious stuff. And I know you don't entirely dislike her, even if you make it seem that way." He snatches the bottle back up and taking a drink. It burns, but he notices it less with every sip he takes. "So let's try to help her out, if she decides to stay, okay?"

"Whatever." She says, wrapping her arm around his shoulders and stealing the bottle from him. "Let's play something."

"Thanks, Malina." He picks up a controller, turning on the console.

"For what?"

"I dunno. Just... thanks?" He shrugs. "For being my... fuck it, I'll just ask. What are we?"

"You're welcome." She snorts, gracing him with a rare smile. "And I'm your girlfriend, you complete fool. Now let's try that new Call of Duty that came out last week."

"Ugh, split screen?" He complains, taking one last big swig from the bottle, which at this point was just about ¼ gone. "Fuck it, I'll be drunk enough to enjoy it in 20 minutes anyways."

The mood for the two of them had lightened considerably. But an air of unease still clung around the house, for the remainder of that day. This was Heaven they were dealing with, after all.