Life 2: Draconic Crimson

Noé shook his hand as the remnants of the spear fell through his fingers in darkening shards. In most cases, grabbing hold of the spear would have elicited a feeling of continued agony until it was released, but for Noé it was an annoying buzz on his palm that faded once he was rid of it, though his enemy barely seemed phased as he stood there quite unharmed. If anything, she seemed pleased he hadn't been so easy to take down.

"I'm glad the intel was correct," The girl mused, producing another spear in her right hand. "Honestly, I had a whole plan thought out on how to deal with you, but since you seem to be so sharp, now I can do this the fun way! Die, devil!"

The air buzzed as the spear came flying towards Noé, but yet again he caught the weapon as it was mid flight. The black-haired girl grinned, and another buzz hit Noé's ears. Dropping the bag in his left hand, he caught yet another spear, this one formed of yellow light. The girl clicked her tongue as Noé looked to the source of the spear, and like the first time, both the weapons dimmed in his grip before fading away.

"What the hell…?" The girl muttered. "Something's up…"

"Oh, so now you noticed?" Noé shook his hands again, curling them up into fists. "I don't really get it myself, but I'm pretty damn resistant to light. So much so that the stuff just seems to cancel out around me."

"Don't try to bluff me!" The girl shouted, producing two more spears. "You're just some guy off the streets! There's no way you'd be so powerful to cancel out light itself! No Devil can stop it!"

"Maybe you just haven't met one yet," Noé's mocking was met with the girl rushing him head on. As he dodged through her spears, from the corners of his vision he caught three more flashes. Blue, yellow, and pink. Stamping his foot onto the ground, Noé launched himself backwards, stopping himself when his back hit the trunk of a tree. In a flash, three light spears buried themselves into the ground where he stood not a second earlier.

Three others had joined the girl in black where he'd been. Three other figures crept out of the dark to stand alongside the young woman. A tall man in a dark coat, holding a blue spear; a blonde girl in a maid outfit holding a pink spear; and finally, a woman in burgundy, revealing attire holding the yellow. And now all four of them bore feathered wings as black as night. That makes four… but then what about that last one? It hasn't moved… hanging back, or not with them at all?

"My my, now what kind of thing did little ol' me do to get the attention of four Fallen Angels?" Noé hid the fact he was taking stock of things by keeping up the blasé tone. "Can't just be me being half devil that would warrant this kind of reaction, especially considering whose territory this town is."

"We have reason to consider you a potential threat," said the man. "You clearly are not with either group, therefore you're a stray, are you not?"

"You did hear me say I'm only half devil, right?" Noé shot back, the group of four flinching. "Seems as much as your intel was spot on, whoever told you about me left out that tiny but oh so important detail. I ain't with a Peerage 'cause I was never with one. I do other things… though clearly that doesn't seem to matter much."

"Well at least you're smart enough to catch on," The woman chuckled.

"You may be able to resist light, but tell me, stray," The lead girl said. "Can you stop the spears of four Fallen Angels at once?!"

Noé sighed as the Fallen Angels raised their spears, throwing them at once. The four lights swirled together as they gouged at the ground in their rush towards him. Noé's expression remained calm as he shifted his arms, streams of emerald and crimson energy flowing off his hands. "Ddraig, time to get to work."

[BOOST!]

The four bolts of light crashed into a flare of emerald, bursting into an explosion of colored light that shot skywards before vanishing. As the dust began to thin out, the Fallen Angels went from visibly cocky to shocked as two emerald glows edged in red shone from under the cover of dust. A swipe cast aside the dust cloud, revealing Noé without so much as a visible scratch on him, and his arms now clad in suddenly produced gauntlets.

Both items were a deep crimson, set in segmented fashion like a dragon's scales, fingers ending in dark claws made of the same scale-like metal. The right gauntlet was slimmer, streamlined like a blade with glowing emerald lines stretching back from the gem laid into it, its segments shifting and letting out a hiss of air. The left gauntlet was bulkier, almost like a small shield as its parts shifted into place, while two golden spikes flared out from its sides.

"Is that a…?!" The man gasped. "I know the intel predicted it but… doesn't it look different than we were told it would be?"

"I thought he wasn't even supposed to have awoken it yet!" The maid-girl shouted.

"Idiot! We were told it might still be inactive!" As the woman yelled, the girl who had started this all stumbled back with a shocked expression.

"This wasn't supposed to… it's not the real thing!" She screamed, reproducing her spear. "Like some random half-breed from off the streets would somehow have that Sacred Gear! The odds of that…"

"Would be like a miracle… right?"

No sooner did the girl hear Noé that she registered he was no longer at a distance, but right in her face. As Noé's right fist came forward, the man got in the way, attempting to block the punch with his spear, only to have it break apart, as emerald energy burst from the gauntlet, sending him flying back into the trees as his allies pulled away. The woman lunged with her spear, Noé lifting his left gauntlet, the fallen's weapon harmlessly scraping off of the armor, allowing for Noé to grab the woman by the arm, ramming his right fist right into her sternum. Another burst of emerald light sent her crashing into a tree.

[BOOST!]

A voice rang through the air again, the gem on both gauntlets shining as Noé turned to his remaining foes.

"What the hell?!" The maid girl yelped, lifting into the air to retreat further. "Shouldn't you just be some lowlife rando?! You're way too freaking strong!"

"Rich words coming from the people who went 4v1 against said assumed 'lowlife rando'!"

"Still, it's too bad you're only a close-range fighter!"

As the girl threw her spear, Noé threw up his right hand, steadying it with his left. Crimson light gathered in his palm as the gauntlet opened, then coursing back and blasting out from the opened segments in a sustained beam. The girl screamed as the beam ripped through her spear and hit dead on through one of her wings, sending her crashing to the ground.

"Are you freaking serious?!" The remaining Fallen Angel stepped back, gritting her teeth. "Were we tricked? Lied to? Why the hell are you so strong?!"

"Apparently your boss didn't do enough research on me to know this was a stupid idea," Noé rolled his arm as he turned to the Fallen Angel. "If they had, they'd know what this Gear is, and why sending four cannon fodder Fallens my way wouldn't work. Unless that was the idea anyway, in which case your boss must hate your asses."

"Don't get cocky, punk!" The Fallen Angel let out a road, a red aura gathering around her as her wings flared out further. Noé set his stance, lowering his right arm.

"Release."

[EXPLOSION!]

Golden lines shot across the gauntlet as Noé shot forward in time with the Fallen Angel's charge, emerald energy streaming from the gauntlet as Noé slid past her spear, deflecting it with his left gauntlet as the right came up, the hard right haymaker slamming right into the girl's head as the stream of energy turned into an echoing burst, sending her even further into the trees than her companions had gone.

"And that's four for four," As he was shaking his arms off, Noé caught two flashes and quickly deflected two more spears, one yellow one blue. He then caught the other two Fallen Angels moving into the air, the woman lugging the maid girl in her arm while the man had the out cold girl in black over his shoulder.

"Consider yourself lucky, half-breed!" The man shouted. Noé raised a brow. Aren't you guys the ones who just got their asses kicked? He thought. "Next time we see you, it won't go the same way!"

"Pretty sure it will!" Noé shouted in reply.

"Don't think you won't see us again bastard!" The woman shouted. As the Fallen Angels vanished into the darkening sky, Noé blinked a few times as the gauntlets on his arms faded into red light.

"Fifteen," Noé sighed. He turned and picked up the bag he dropped, inspecting the items to make sure they were fine. Surprisingly, they were in practically perfect shape. But now there's still one… he looked off to where he felt the remaining presence, standing straight, gathering a ball of red energy into his right hand. "I know you're there, so come on out! I'm guessing you aren't with those four Fallens, but after all that, I ain't taking the risk."

But rather than a reveal of the last mysterious presence, instead, Noé felt it fade away until it was completely gone. Letting out a sigh, he turned around… only to shoot his right hand up and fire a red bolt from one of his fingers, hearing a small screech as he turned back around. Turning on his heel and walking towards where there was now a small smoke trail on the ground, he picked up a small creature that looked akin to a bat, but a fair bit too round to be anything close to a normal one.

"Well, it sure as hell wasn't you," he remarked, the bat-creature shuddering as he held it by the wing. "Relax, that shot wasn't meant to actually hurt you. Fly off now and tell your master if they got something to say to me, do it in person. Capiche?"

The bat shook its body in the closest thing to a nod it could muster. Knowing he had its understanding, Noé released the creature and watched it fly off into the night. He waited until he was sure it was gone, only then leaving the park. A part of him was at least hoping tomorrow wouldn't have issues… but he could only guess the repercussions that would be coming his way.

"Ugh… this is the worst."

The next morning, Noé was going about his routine with a notable deal of caution behind it. Something Van took clear note of as the boy was cooking breakfast. And Noé could tell too, since feeling his father's eyes boring into his skull wasn't exactly what he would call all that pleasant.

"Something happened last night," Van cut right into the matter as Noé set the plates. Noé sighed as he sat down, heavily leaning on an arm. "What was it? Not another gang fight I would presume?"

"Well… not a gang fight exactly," Noé cleared his throat, Van raising a brow as he raised his mug to his lips. "Ugh… I… I got attacked by some Fallen Angels."

"Huh?!" Van spluttered, barely keeping the coffee in his mouth from spraying across the table. The man gagged as he went for a napkin, clearing his throat. "You were… I'm sorry, repeat that please!"

"When I was getting groceries, I sensed a few people. It obviously wasn't any of your familiars, so I took another route. And then, once no one was around, a bunch of Fallen Angels came out and attacked me," Noé was obviously abridging the story, but giving all of the details wasn't exactly the point. "I drove them off though. It was pretty easy, all things considered. Some low rankers, nothing more. But uh… they did know about me being half devil… and that I have a Sacred Gear."

"…" Van remained silent, but Noé knew his father enough to know the man was clearly mulling over the information. "Go on…"

"Only four of them were Fallens though. There was a fifth, but they didn't show themselves. I did ping a Familiar though… I told it to tell its Master to come to me personally if they want to spy," Noé knew there was no use in trying to hide it anyway. Even if it meant he would potentially get lectured for acting so obviously recklessly. But instead, Van's face remained pensive and calm. Almost as if something like this was an event he had long considered a possibility. "Dad?"

"While I could reprimand you for making a reckless move, if they had their eyes on you then clearly there's no reason to not act as if we can suddenly behave as if all of this wouldn't have ever happened. Though I will say shooting the familiar was unnecessary."

"I am aware this is gonna come back to bite me. I'm just waiting to see how."

The ringing of the doorbell drew both of them out of the so far short conversation. The father and son exchanged a glance. Without another word, they stood and threw their hands out in a quick rock-paper-scissors game. Noé sighed, paper failing him once more, Van giving him a smirk. The doorbell rang again, Noé rolling his eyes as he trotted to the door while his hair and eyes shifted color. As he approached, he immediately felt his guard go up on instinct when his senses went off. Whoever's behind that isn't hiding their aura… so not a human. Tsuno would just bust the door open if it was him. The bell rang a third time, Noé grumbling as he opened it.

"It's like six in the morning, what could someone…" Noé trailed off as he saw the surprise visitor; Crimson hair, bright blue eyes, and that distractingly curvy figure showed off by her school uniform. "Gremory? What in the ever-loving hell are you doing here?"

"Oh my, is a classmate showing up at your door that much of a surprise?" The girl's coy smile wasn't doing her any favors in Noé's opinion.

"Well considering you're not Tsuno… yes," was his blunt response. "Seriously, what're you here for?" Noé caught her pause for a moment, as if Rias was expecting him to catch something. He sighed. He knew exactly what this was about. "This is about last night, isn't it?"

"My, you do catch on quickly," Rias giggled. "Considering your usual behavior off campus…" Rias glanced past Noé as she spotted Van leaning into view. "and as your classmate, I figured perhaps I could help you deal with it. We're both third years after all, I'd quite hate for your last year before college to go awry because of such hooligans, wouldn't you say?"

Talk about trying to play around the issue. Noé glanced back towards Van, the man nodding. Seems she doesn't know who Dad is though… I can work with that. "Really now? Almost three years in and now you decide to talk to me about this? I figured Shitori getting onto me now and again was good enough."

"Well, considering the luck that is us being in the same class this year, perhaps now would be a good time to get more than merely knowledgeable of each other. I happen to have an offer I would like to make, so would you care to listen as we walk to school?"

"Hmm…" Noé looked back one more time. He took a moment to look Rias over. Composed face, confident smile… whatever she has in mind, and if she does know what went down last night, she clearly knows what I can do. So what is she planning then? "Fine. Let me get my things. But don't blame me if people start saying weird things at school."

"I assure you, Edelweiss, no one will say anything."

Noé shut the door and gathered his supplies up. As he was heading back to the front, Van stopped him with a quick wave of the hand.

"Don't be too paranoid," Van said, Noé raising a brow. "Look, just trust me on this one."

"Do you know what this is about?"

"In a way," The confirmation just made Noé raise his brow as high as it could go. "I'll explain it to you after school. There are some calls I need to make if it has come to this. So, for now… just go along with what the girl plans, alright? Rather than make it troublesome for yourself."

"… you know I don't like it when you're vague like this," Noé muttered, Van giving him a sterner look. "But, fine. This has to do with why mom travels all the time too… doesn't it?" Van gave an affirming nod, Noé letting out a short huff. "Alright then. I hope the explanation is worth it. See you later."

"Have a good day."

Van ducked into his "office" once more, and Noé stepped outside to find Rias waiting outside of the yard's gate, looking away from checking her watch as Noé approached. They silently made their way off, not a word being exchanged between them as they made distance from the house. Once it was out of sight, Noé could feel the mood change a bit.

"Alright, let's cut to the chase, yeah?" Noé came to a stop, Rias taking a few steps more before turning. To Noé's annoyance, the slight slope of the hill put her slightly above him. "Let's get the basic part of this out of the way: You're a Devil too, aren't you?"

"You noticed? Is this a recent thing, or have you always been aware I also wasn't human?" Rias had an amused lilt to her voice. Noé scoffed as he took a few steps ahead of her.

"Oh please, don't act like this town isn't home to all kinds of non-humans. You, the Student Council, hell a few members of the student body ain't what you'd call normal either. I think the fact your dad is suspiciously labeled as the school's administrator says a lot."

"Not just sharp, but also well informed," Rias mused. "A shame. I had an entire idea laid out, but it seems I may not need to go the whole way. So, to answer your question, yes, I am a Devil," and as if to make her own point, Rias strode ahead again to once more have elevation on Noé. His irked look only seemed to amuse her. "I am Rias Gremory, daughter to House Gremory of the Ars Goetia, and its current heir. I will indeed admit I've had my eyes on you for a while now, Noé Edelweiss… it's rare to find a half-devil on their lonesome out in a place such as this. Much less one bearing a Sacred Gear."

"Then I'm also gonna cut the routine," Noé strode ahead again, Rias giving him an amused smirk. Clearly this had turned into a game of putting oneself over the other. "I'm going to assume then it was one of yours who was tailing me alongside those Fallens. And that it was your Familiar I put a bolt into the face of."

"Were the situation different, I'd be paying you back for that, so you know," Rias let a flicker of black flash across her hand. Noé scoffed in reply to the threat. "Though I'll admit part of why I'm doing this now is thanks to you being so… direct in the message you sent. "Do it in person, not spy on me" if I remember the wording correctly."

"Glad you got the message. So, pray tell, why was one of yours also tailing me?"

"Well that was for observation, nothing more," Rias admitted. "However, after last night, let's say the situation… changed. Even I would admit finding you were also being tracked by those Fallen Angels came as a surprise. Why now, I wonder? I mean, it's not like you haven't been acting on your own for years now."

"Sure as hell longer than you've been here," Noé said, his expression adding he wanted Rias to get to the point. "Again, the point. And don't do something coy like "I'll tell you after class" or anything like that because you want to be dramatic," Noé paused when he caught Rias flinch. "You were absolutely going to do that, weren't you? You were absolutely going to pull the act on me!"

"I-I have no idea what you mean! I definitely wasn't hoping to make this…" Rias slowed as Noé's narrowed gaze bore into her. He even dropped the glamour slightly to return them to their bright gold color. "Did you have to do the eye thing?"

"Yes, I did."

"Ugh, my you're rude," Rias sighed, folding her arms under her chest. "Fine, if you wish to take the fun out of it, I'll be direct."

"Thank you."

"As the representative of House Gremory within this territory, I have been informed by my father, the current Head of the House that you, Noé Edelweiss, are to be granted status as a ward of our household. There's more to go over, and the streets are no place to do it. A discussion better had in the presence of my peerage, privately."

"Wait… what?!" Noé turned as Rias strode ahead of him again. "The hell do you mean the Gremorys are taking me in as a ward?! First I've heard about this!"

"It's the first I have heard about it as well," Rias replied. "This is a decision coming from my father, so I'm in no position to refute the statement. I don't know the reasons yet, but I am certainly keen to ask. But… considering what I saw last night, I think I have a good idea. Am I wrong, Red Dragon Emperor?"

"Looks like I'm not the only one who's well informed," Noé chuckled. "Little miss red also keeps herself informed, eh Ddraig?"

"I kept telling you we'd be found out sooner or later." A third, booming voice spoke, seemingly from around Noé. But no other person appeared. Instead, a green, glowing emblem appeared on the back of his left hand, the mark shaped like a dragon's head. "Though who knows why it took this long… the mage does good work if it took until now."

"And I can guess that would be the Welsh Dragon speaking," Rias mused. "My, to have Y Ddraig Goch himself come out to speak with his wielder, this is quite the honor."

"Consider this an exception, Gremory."

"I will keep it in mind. Well then, now that things are established, let's be on our way. Wouldn't want Sona to lecture you again for being late this time, yes?"

"You're just a joy of a time," Noé grumbled. "Ddraig, what do you think?" he kept things to his thoughts this time as he kept behind Rias. In the back of his mind, he could feel the presence he was oh so familiar with at this point in life, enough to bring out another image of "red" into his mind… though Noé would say this image was closer to "crimson."

"For now, let's just do what your old man says. Play along, and figure it out. Something is going on and I bet he knows about it. Let's just hope we get told about it from the man himself."

"You're almost oddly interested in this."

"Why would I not be? My vessel is half-devil for crying out loud. Not something that usually happens for me."

"Right."

This was the situation Noé was in that made him have to at times stay on the down low. It wasn't merely being a half-devil and hiding that nature when out in public. It was the fact he wasn't alone. Within him dwelled not just a power, but another being entirely. Ddraig y Goch, the Welsh Dragon of England. Or as others knew him, the Red Dragon Emperor. Bound to Noé's very soul through the gauntlets he could draw out, a tool known as a Sacred Gear… and there was at least some part of Noé that wished he could have had it easier.

But now it was clear the easy end of his life was starting to come to a close.

Van Edelweiss was a man who ran what one could call an… unusual business. Like his son, he was far from what one would call normal, for as much he looked and oft presented as a totally normal human. But that was the matter, he was not. He was no devil like his son, but neither was he the opposite. He was certainly human, but he was not a normal human. Rather, he was a sorcerer. Or magician. The phrases were for the most part interchangeable as far as those who used them were ever concerned.

And it was a trade he certainly plied. Such was his "business" within Kuoh Town. The Back Alley, a small office shoved away in downtown Kuoh Town with a particular tagline to it: "Found by those who need it, when they need It." Van could chalk it up to a smart little enchantment he made use of. Kuoh Town was just out of the way enough there were no exact rules on what it's supernatural denizens could or could not do, as long as they stuck to certain pre-described locations.

The suburbs within the area Kuoh Academy were, for example, overseen by the Gremory family, so as such it was a place most sorts were wise enough to steer clear of unless they wanted trouble. And the greater city? That was Van's job to oversee. While The Back Alley certainly seemed like a normal office, the desks of his office space were littered with tomes and papers, some of which still glowed with traces of magical energy as he brushed his hands along them, each paper visibly etched in arcane formulas and runes.

Brushing aside the latest set of papers atop the large ebony desk centering the room, Van sat at the large chair. Cracking his knuckles, he spun his hands over the clear space, a dark blue magic circle forming with a smaller red one taking shape in the center. The smaller circle bore the mark of a rose at its middle. With an additional snap, the two circles grew brighter for a moment.

"Connection, Zeoticus Gremory," As Van leaned back while the magic circles pinged. A moment later, the ebbing lights took form. Within the lights formed the image of a man in a white suit, with long red hair, a well-trimmed goatee, and bright blue eyes. The next to total opposite image of the scruffy looking sorcerer. "Zeo. Been a while."

"It certainly has, Van," Zeoticus chuckled. "When did we speak last? It was… ah yes, after that incident with those two Strays a month ago. What a mess that was, hm?"

"Nothing we couldn't handle, but you know I'm not calling you so we can idly reminisce about past work while I meddle with formulas."

"Of course not. This is about that finally coming to pass," Zeoticus let out a sigh, clearly reclining into whatever he was seated in. "If I'm to be honest, Van, I had hoped we wouldn't have had to resort to this, especially not when Lunarinelia is still absent."

"You know as well as I do Luna is just going to laugh it off once she's home. This was her and Zechs' idea to begin with," Van leaned forward on his elbows. "But we also know if we have to put this into place, it means others have noticed. Frankly I think two years of unlocking the Boosted Gear and keeping it under wraps has to be some new record."

"I would certainly say so! Especially with what you tell me young Noé has done with it, truly marvelous I would say," Zeoticus' jaunty laugh faded into a sterner expression. "But let's also be serious. If it was Fallen Angels who attacked your son, it gives a good idea of who could have told them he possesses such a Sacred Gear. Which does not bode well if he plans to make a move… but still, why send in four low rankers like that?"

"Maybe someone else gave them their orders," Van suggested, "Or they were only fed info while operating on their own. It wouldn't be surprising all things considered. Honestly, Fallen were probably going to show up here eventually. That old church is a prime locale to make a hideout in since it's obvious your daughter and Sitri won't go near the place."

"That would be good to keep in mind. The thing to be concerned about is if they'll actually honor Noé being under our protection, so he isn't treated like a stray," Zeotics gave a thoughtful hum, Van nodding in agreement. "Things may be peaceful for NOW… but it's strenuous at best. And now that those Fallen have clearly seen what Noé is capable of… well, whatever they are planning, it's likely he's risen high into their list of threats."

"That's also my concern. I don't doubt Noé's ability to handle it if they go after him again. Frankly something like this would barely be a stroll in the park for him. Rather… it's the possibility to cause a political mess," Van sunk further into his chair as he shut his eyes. "There would be little to stop them from claiming that, if Noé were to eliminate those four, he acted on his own despite his status as a ward, which would be plenty of incentive for some Fallen to pick an even bigger fight. They were hit the hardest when the war ended… some of them are desperate."

"Indeed. Well, no use in us stressing over it for the time being," Zeoticus' change back to relaxed brought Van to narrow his gaze. "That's all we can do for now, Van. Let's let the kids have some fun and see how they get along. Rias knows her way around acting as a devil, so she can hopefully teach Noé a thing or two. We both know this situation was utterly inevitable… his bloodline wouldn't allow that child to live a normal life, no matter how much you and Lunarinelia wished it."

"At least, remaining in the Inner Side bought us almost twenty years' worth of time. Noé is prepared… as much as we were able to prepare him anyway."

"Though, I assume he doesn't know, does he? About the nature of his non-human blood, the nature of Lunarinelia's heritage?"

"He still hasn't been able to use that power… yet, though. It's only a matter of time, honestly."

"I see. Well then, I will leave you to it. Oh, do take it easy on Rias, will you? She's unaware of the identity of the local sorcerer, so try not to hit her ego too hard when she brings this to you, yes?"

"Haha, are you sure I shouldn't help your daughter get her head on straight if that's the case?" Van's amused smirk brought Zeoticus to laugh. "I'll see you later, Zeoticus. I'll update you if anything changes with the situation. And do get some new contracts in, business is getting light."

"Will do, though of course Rias and her Peerage are going to need to handle some of these jobs you know?"

"Of course. Have a good day."

As the light faded, Van turned the chair around to a wall covered in more pages of formula and runes. As much as he would say as a father he disliked his son being in dangerous situations, it was also his job to teach the boy how to control the abilities he was born with and the awareness of his half-devil nature. If it was inevitable that Noé would run headlong into the true nature of himself amid this world, then it was everything the sorcerer could do to prepare the boy for that. He could only be thankful he had been given plenty of valuable time to do so.

"Well then…" Van stood, going to a map of the town, pressing his fingers to a mark with "church" written next to it. "Let's start the case, shall we? The case of the Fallen Angels in Kuoh."

A/N

And that is the second one up! Which... also answers the exact nature of this fanfic. Granted as I said, shared universe. If its not at least a fair bit obvious now, Darklight and Freelancer take place within the same universe as one another. Not exactly moving in TANDEM but certainly close enough to one another to roll back around at times. You'll see as we go.