hello hello. I am writing this because it is thanksgiving break (edit 12/21/21 yes it was indeed thanksgiving when i started this chapter) and I am Tipsy and SPOILER FOR YJ SEASON 4 Feeling Things over Conner's death in Young Justice: Phantoms.

Do you guys think he's dead? I am in denial myself.

Okay and I am so so so so so sorry for seemingly "abandoning" this story. I love this story and Venus and am constantly thinking about it I just have so little time to write. But here we are!

First, I want to say a huge thank you to my lovely lovely reviewers who literally made me grin so hard every time I read one. Seeing reviews pop up days/weeks/months/years after i post a chapter makes me so happy - it really inspires me to keep writing because i still love this story so much and have just been struggling to balance my creative work with my actual work recently. but anyways thank you all so so much! i responded to all you at the bottom of the chapter but i didn't want a huge ginormous A/N at the top LOL

Disclaimer: I don't own Young Justice


MOUNT JUSTICE
October 1, 17:47 EDT

Venus yawned as she walked down the hall from her dormitory and towards the kitchen. As usual, she was practically on autopilot from the moment she woke up until the moment she got her coffee.

If it was her choice, Venus would sleep until at least two pm every day. She was a perpetual night owl and late raiser. However, Batman and the rest of the Team and League had the obnoxious habit of waking up early no matter the time they'd finished duty the night before. Being used to her beauty sleep, Venus could get a bit hellish in the mornings, particularly after a late night.

The demon sluggishly filled her mug with coffee and leaned forwards, her elbows resting against the counter as she alternated between sipping her drink and leaning her head against the cool marble.

"Hey, you," a voice murmured as a pair of arms wrapped around Venus's waist. In spite of herself, Venus grinned, leaning backwards willingly as Conner pulled her upwards and against him, kissing her gently on the lips.

As usual with the new couple, the pair kept their public affection brief and chaste. Conner was by nature a private person, and while Venus had no shame in her actions, a small, sympathetic part of her kept their relationship private out of courtesy to Artemis and M'gann.

It was clear as day to Venus that both of the other girls on the Team liked Conner, and she felt she owed it to them to tell them in person that she and Conner were seeing each other as opposed to either of them catching Venus and Conner sneaking around.

Venus tried not to dwell on the fact that she knew that two months ago she'd never in a million years care if anyone else liked Conner – there was no way she was growing fond of these humans, was she?

"C'mon," Conner said, pulling back slightly. "The others are training."

Venus groaned playfully, rolling her eyes as Conner laughed and pulled her down the hallway towards the mission room. As usual, Wolf and Grimalkin weren't far behind. The black cat was trotting next to the white wolf. As they came to a stop at the entryway of the mission room, Grimalkin paused, eying one of Wolf's giant paws.

After a moment, the cat leapt, batting at Wolf's paw playfully and growling in as ferocious a manner she could manage. Conner and Venus both laughed, watching as Grimalkin fought Wolf's paw and the giant dog watched bemusedly.

"You know they're a couple, right?" Venus fought a smirk as she heard Robin's whispered comment to Kaldur. She glanced at Conner, and she could tell by the look on his face he'd heard as well, their enhanced hearing serving them both well.

"Guess we're not as subtle as we think," she murmured, a grin flitting across her face. Conner chuckled.

"I believe I knew before they did," Kaldur murmured in response, making Venus chuckle again. She pretended not to hear, tuning out the rest of her friends conversation as she leaned down to detach Grimalkin from Wolf's leg.

"Oi, Grim, give it a rest, would ya?" Venus griped playfully, carefully plucking Grim's claws out from where they were tangled in Wolf's long fur. "Let's stay on Wolf's good side, okay? He could eat you if he wanted to."

"Mur-ow," Grim protested, staring directly into Venus's eyes. The demon chuckled, carefully placing the small black cat on her shoulder.

"Recognized: Batman, Zero-Two."

The computer announced Batman's arrival, and the Dark Knight strode out of the Zeta Tube. "Computer, national news," he ordered, walking towards the middle of the room. Venus arched an eyebrow, pivoting towards Batman to look at the screen. A projection opened up on Batman's command, displaying a young blonde woman that Venus vaguely recognized. She read the captions on the screen – Cat Grant, reporting from Metropolis.

Oh, from Tapei, Venus remembered, recalling the reporter had covered the event.

"The initial attack was short-lived," Cat Grant said, her eyebrows creased with concern as she addressed her national audience. "But Metropolis was only granted a short reprieve." The cameras cut to shots from above the city, and Venus's eyes opened wide as she saw the giant plant-tentacles bursting up from underground and wrapping themselves around buildings.

"What on Earth…?" Venus muttered.

"And despite the intervention of Superman and the Justice League, there seems to be no end in sight." As Cat continued to narrate, footage showed Superman, the Hawks and a Green Lantern rescuing civilians from rooftops and mounting attack against the giant plants.

"Should we get out there?" Robin asked, sounding slightly hopeful. Batman turned around to face the Team.

"No," he replied promptly. "The League will soon have the situation under control. That's not why I'm here. According to your intel, Sportsmaster supplied Cadmus's Blockbuster formula to Kobra."

Wally nodded, jumping in. "Who combined it with Bane's Venom to create Kobra-Venom."

"Which the Brain used to create his animal army," Robin added.

"And upgrade Wolf," Conner piped up, rubbing Wolf gently under the chin. Venus chuckled slightly, feeling fond of Conner's affection for the animal.

She tried not to dwell on the fact that her feelings for Conner felt deeper than a simple attraction. Conner was easy on the eyes, to say the least, but Venus liked him, too. She liked his personality, and that scared her more than she was willing to admit.

Venus had plenty of experience with boys, but no experience in a relationship. And she liked it that way…or least she thought she had.

Venus shook herself out of her thoughts as M'gann hissed her name. When Venus looked up, Batman was giving her a disapproving look. She guessed she hadn't been subtle about her daydreaming.

"My bad, sir," she muttered, fighting the urge to roll her eyes. "You have my full attention."

Batman didn't bother to grace Venus with a response, continuing as if nothing had happened. "Divine cellulose does contain trace amounts of a Kobra-Venom variant." Venus could practically feel the shock that rippled through the other members of the Team, but she wasn't particularly impressed.

Whoop-di-doo, the mortal villains are colluding. Puh-leez, can this be anymore boring?

Venus was tactful enough to keep her thoughts to herself, and she arranged her expression in her classic innocent "angel" façade.

"These cannot be coincidences," Kaldur said, frowning. "Unrelated criminals are cooperating with one another worldwide."

"Exactly," Batman confirmed. "It's now clear our enemies have formed a some kind of Secret Society of Super-Villains." Venus barely fought back the snort that bubbled in her throat. Really, could this be anymore ridiculous?

"The attack on Metropolis is only the beginning," Batman continued gravely.

"You got that right!" Robin replied, his brow furrowing as he registered the results his search generated. "Plant creatures have sprouted in Gotham City, Paris, Star City, Taipei –" Robin's report cut short at the same time the television feed did. Even Batman swiveled around to look at the holographic screens, surprised by the sudden crash.

"Dude!" Wally hissed at Robin accusingly as the static broadcasted itself across the screen.

"It's not me!" Robin protested indignantly. "Someone's cutting into the satellite signal – all satellite signals!" As the words left Robin's lips, the static cut short, revealing the menacing grin of a clown – the Joker.

"Ladies and gentlemen," the Joker crooned from the screen, an evil grin spread across his face. "We interrupt your regularly scheduled mayhem to bring you this important announcement." The Joker flicked his switchblade out, brandishing it at the screen as his sick smile grew wider. "From the Injustice League." As the clown spoke the last words, he chuckled darkly and rotated the camera, panning it towards a small group of infamous villains.

Venus recognized them only vaguely, but she could tell by the ripple of shock that went through her Teammates that most everyone else did.

"We are responsible for the attacks on your cities," a tall and imposing blond man announced. Venus wracked her brain, her eyes following on the device hooked behind his ear. Ah, Vertigo. She and her father attempted to keep tabs on the people who would end up in eternal punishment, and Vertigo's current track record promised him no shortness of future hell.

"If you wish to save them," Vertigo continued. "A ransom of ten billion American dollars is required. Delivery instructions have been sent to the United Nations. There is no time limit." A dark grin crossed the man's face as he continued, "But, the longer your governments wait…"

"The longer we get to have our…jollies," the Joker finished, cackling as he finished his sentence and leaned in closer to the camera. The clown's insane laughter echoed throughout the mission room as the feed collapsed, reverting back to its original static signal.

Batman pressed on his comm. feed, listening for a moment before responding to the person on the other line.

"Roger that, Aquaman. The UN will prepare the ransom money as a fallback, but it won't come to that." Venus watched as Robin typed furiously on the holographic computer. As he did so, the video feed on the screen rewound, playing back the video message the villains had just broadcasted.

Robin froze the playback at the center of the video, where the villains stood clustered together. As he typed, little markers with identifying information about the villains popped up on the screen.

"Count Vertigo, the Joker, Poison Ivy, Ultra-Humanite, Atomic Skull, Black Adam, Wotan. Seven heavy-hitters. Probably behind nearly everything and everyone we've faced."

"There's your secret society." Wally sounded unusually grave.

"Not so secret anymore," Venus pointed out, examining her fingernails. Her polish was chipping. "Why would they tip their hand?" There was a moment of silence where no one answered, and Venus's brow furrowed in slight annoyance. They couldn't even be bothered to grace her with an answer?

Venus looked up, and she realized that almost everyone was staring at her. Batman looked suspicious, and most of the Team looked shocked.

Conner – looked proud?

Venus pressed her lips together, realizing this was the first time she'd voluntarily spoken at a briefing, other than to mouth off. She crossed her arms over her chest, tilting her chin up defensively. "Never mind," she muttered, her eyes sliding to the side as she glanced at the ground.

"No," Kaldur said gently. "It is a good question. But after India, they may have realized we would deduce the truth and saw no point in hiding any longer."

"Yeah?" Wally said, pumping his first. His eyes were gleaming. For once, Venus was glad for the speedster's overzealousness. No one remembered Venus's comment now, not as Wally continued, "That was their mistake! Right now, I say we go kick some plant creature butt!"

"The Justice League will handle the plants," Batman replied. "I have a different job for this team." Wally sighed, his shoulders sagging in disappointment.

"Aw, man!" Artemis hit him.

"With the plants attacking at so many places simultaneously, there must be a central control system. Your mission is to destroy it," Batman continued. Venus arched an eyebrow, surprised. This seemed…a little out of their depth compared to some of the kiddie missions Batman sent them on.

"You realize what you're really asking them to do," Zatara said, sounding slightly concerned as he stepped up to Batman.

"They're ready," Batman replied with certainty. Wally frowned, looking around.

"Ready? Ready for what?" Artemis hit him again. "Ow!" Wally rubbed his bicep, glaring at the archer. "Will you quit doing that?" Artemis rolled her eyes.

"Hello, Wally! If the big guns are fighting the plants, who do you think we'll be fighting?" Wally shrugged, still rubbing his upper arm where Artemis had hit him.

"I don't know! I guess we'll –" Venus coughed pointedly, and Wally looked at her. Venus whistled, waggling a finger at the screen where the seven villains were still frozen in place. Wally followed her finger, his mouth dropping open in realization. "Oh…"

"Well, Batman," Zatara said, looking at the Team. "I trust you're correct."

"I trust you can locate the enemy," Batman responded. Zatara nodded.

"Indeed. Wotan's involvement suggests sorcery is part of how the plants are controlled." He looked towards the Team. "Robin, if you would provide the holo-map." Robin nodded, typing a few commands onto the holographic keyboard to bring up the globe. "I'll search for signs of concentrated sorcerous activity." Venus's eyes gleamed, realizing that Zatara was about to perform a spell. She took a step closer, interested.

The occult and magic had always fascinated her, and she'd never seen Zatara perform a spell in person before. She got the distinct sense that Zatara didn't like her, but that didn't stop her from being interested in his craft.

Venus watched closely as the man stepped up closer to the holographic globe, holding his hands up towards it.

"Etacol retnecipe fo yrecros!" He chanted. The holo-map stopped spinning, a red marker appearing near Louisiana. Venus grinned. Cool, she thought. "There," Zatara said, stepping backwards. "That is where you will find the Injustice League's central control system."

"Coordinates locked in!" Robin confirmed. "The Louisiana Bayou."

"We are on our way," Kaldur said, nodding at the two Leaguers determinedly before leading the Team out of the room. He looked at the other teenagers. "Change quickly," he told them. "Restock your supplies. This may be our most difficult mission yet."


BAYOU BARTHOLOMEW
October 1, 18:52 CDT

The BioShip was silent for the short trip to Louisiana, each of the Team members busying themselves with their preparations for the battle. Venus watched as Robin and Artemis checked and restocked their weapons almost compulsively. Kid Flash was eating a snack, restoring his energy for the battle ahead.

"What's in the duffle bag?" he asked, motioning towards the small grey bag sitting next to Aqualad. The Atlantean glanced over at Kid Flash, his gaze serious.

"Plan B," he responded simply. Venus frowned, remembering her conversation with Aqualad just before leaving Mount Justice.

*FLASHBACK*

"Ready?" Venus asked, strolling into the hangar. Most of the Team was assembled there already, dressed in their uniforms and checking inventory.

"Not quite," Robin said, looking up from where he was flipping through his utility belt. "We're waiting on Aqualad. He said he had to do something." Venus frowned.

"I'll go look for him," she volunteered, turning back around to head down the hallway.

She found Aqualad in Wally's souvenir room. He was holding the Helmet of Fate, looking at it seriously. Venus leaned against the doorway.

"You're not gonna, you know…put it on, right?" Venus asked casually, looking at Aqualad suspiciously. The Atlantean didn't answer immediately, his brow furrowing as he looked at the Helmet.

"No," he replied, putting it in the duffel bag and zipping it away. He picked up the bag. "But I am bringing it along." He smiled at Venus. "Call it a – Hail Mary."

"Well," Venus said, arching an eyebrow as she led Aqualad back towards the hangar. "I don't like the sound of that."

*END FLASHBACK*

"Aqualad," she said, leaning forwards in her seat. "Are you –" Before Venus could finish her question, Miss Martian groaned loudly. The distraction was enough to make the demon turn her head, and she looked at the Martian in concern. "Alright there, mate?"

"Dizzy," Miss Martian admitted from where she was slumped over the controls of the BioShip, dragging a hand across her face slowly.

"Martians get airsick?" Robin asked, sounding both intrigued and concerned.

"She does look a bit greener than usual," Kid Flash mused, studying Miss Martian's face closely.

"Not me," Miss Martian explained shakily. "Her," she jerked her head to the right, towards Artemis. The archer blinked, surprised.

"I feel fine!"

"Not her," Miss Martian continued to clarify, frustrated. "The BioShip! She's trying to shield us, but something's going on." As if on cue, the BioShip shuddered and Miss Martian cried out, raising her hands to her temples instinctively.

With the lack of Miss Martian's manual controls and the BioShip's clear confusion, the ship immediately began to flip and tumble through the air. Venus grimaced, clutching her seatbelt as the BioShip rolled from side-to-side, bouncing out of control.

"It feels like we're caught in something," Robin said, his fingers flying over the keys in front of him. "There's nothing on the radar!"

Miss Martian gasped, sitting up straight. Her eyes were wide. "We're de-camoued!" She warned. "But those…shockwaves cleared up; I think we can –"

Before Miss Martian could finish her sentence, the BioShip shuddered from another impact. This time, it felt like something had collided with them in midair from the bottom of the ship.

The BioShip spun out of control once again, heading towards ground in a tailspin. It was clear the previous shockwaves had only been to lower their defenses, not incapacitate them. Venus grit her teeth, bracing herself against her seat as the ship hit the ground, bouncing a few times before coming to a halt. Venus pressed a hand to her head, looking out the window.

Her eyes went wide.

"Incoming!" she shouted, rising out of her seat. She was immediately thrown to the ground as the vines she'd spotted wrapped themselves around the BioShip and began to drag in under the water's surface.

"Vee!" Superboy leapt out of his seat to help her.

"I'm alright," she said, rolling over to standup. "We need to get out."

"Agreed," Aqualad replied. "Everyone –"

Miss Martian cut their leader off with a pained grunt, and Venus whirled around. The Martian was holding her head in her hands, a grimace painted across her face. "He's hurting her!" she shouted.

Who is? Venus looked up to the ceiling, realizing. One of the villains – Black Adam? – had ripped a hole in the top of the BioShip. Superboy stood up from Venus's side, glaring at the villain. He bent his knees, preparing to leap, and then jumped towards Adam, punching the villain and sending him flying into the air. Unfortunately, Black Adam's grip was the only thing holding the BioShip afloat. Once he let go, the plant tentacles began to pull the BioShip deeper into the swamp, and water began rushing through the hole in the roof.

"Out, now!" Aqualad shouted, ducking under the water. "Miss Martian, open a hatch!"

"Right, of course." Gills formed along Miss Martian's throat as she ducked under the water. Venus took a deep breath, following her teammates underneath the surface of the water and towards the opening Miss Martian created on the bottom of the BioShip.

The demon had to admit she didn't love water, especially after the near drowning in the Cave courtesy of the Reds. Her natural element was fire, it only made sense that water wasn't her favorite. Still, she swam clumsily through the murky depths, fighting to keep up with her teammates.

Fur brushed Vneus's fingertips, and she started, realizing that Wolf was swimming with her. The large animal rose next to her, allowing her to wrap her arms around his thick neck so he could pull her along.

Finally, the two broke through the surface, both panting for air. Wolf pulled Venus along a little further, until her feet brushed muddy ground. "Thanks," she gasped, scratching the oversized dog behind the ears. He responded with a lick to her cheek.

"Do you know how to swim?" Robin asked her, sounding half-concerned and half-amused. Venus grinned wryly, brushing her sopping hair out of her face.

"I know how to not drown," she told him breathlessly, sloshing out of the shallows and to the cover of the forest where her teammates were waiting. Superboy touched her arm, checking on her silently as he scratched Wolf behind the ears.

"She's in shock," Miss Martian said, sounding pretty shocked herself. Venus looked to where Miss Martian was watching the BioShip be pulled underneath the water by the vines. "She'll need time to recover."

Just as the words left Miss Martian's lips, a loud throbbing feeling erupted in Venus's head. She shrieked, dropping to the ground and clutching her head. For a moment, she thought it was a weird side effect of the lack of oxygen, until she realized that the rest of the Team was in a similar state of pain.

"Vertigo," she heard Kid Flash snarl, and she managed to turn around enough to make out the tall blond man she'd seen on the TV screen. He smirked imperiously.

"That's Count Vertigo to you, peasant."

Venus grunted, rolling over despite the throbbing pain in her head. She reached for her whip hilts, detaching them from her belt as she rose to her feet. Around her, the rest of the Team was also recovering and readying themselves to engage the enemy.

'Robin, Miss Martian, disappear!' Aqualad's order ran over the mental link. 'We will keep them busy. You two, fulfill the mission objective.'

Venus clenched her hands into fists, summoning her holy fire. Her veins glowed hot, and the flames flickered out of the whip in a glowing lasso. She swung her weapon, wrapping it around the chest of Black Adam and pulling him off of Superboy. Venus braced her feet, swinging the villain around and sending him flying into Count Vertigo.

She flicked her wrist, the flame dissipating as she prepared herself for her next attack.

'Venus, behind you!' The demon whirled around at the sound of Artemis's mental warning, whipping around to face the dark sorcerer Wotan.

"Well, well," Wotan chuckled, hovering in front of Venus. Master of dark magic as he was, Venus and Lucifer's presence on Earth was curious to him. "We meet at last."

Venus narrowed her eyes, whipping her holy fire at him. Wotan flicked his wrist, sending up his own bolt of his mystic energy to dissipate the flames. His eyes glowed with power as he chanted a spell, holding his arms to the side.

"Diaboli captionem!" Venus gasped at the familiar words, her eyes going wide as a glowing yellow pentagram wrapped itself around her, binding her arms to her sides so tight she dropped her whips. She fell to her knees with a grunt, the pentagram burning her arms.

"Let me out," she snarled, grimacing as dark red, almost black ichor ran down her arms, gushing from the wound the pentagram caused. The substance was thicker than human blood, oozing rather than spilling to the ground.

"Unlike some who practice the occult, I do not worship you or your father," Wotan replied. "I take no orders from you."

"Well," Venus muttered, struggling to her feet. With every movement, the pentagram burned her arms. "It was worth a shot." She grit her teeth, trying hard to summon her fire. Even without her whips, she could surround herself with an inferno. To her surprise, nothing happened. Wotan chuckled.

"You may be a natural wielder of the dark arts, but I have practiced this craft for thousands of years. You are no match for me, Devil's Spawn." The unmistakable sharp ringing of Vertigo's shockwaves exploded in Venus's head, and she fell to her knees again. The unbearable pain grew stronger as Vertigo approached, and Venus fought to keep her eyes open.

"Stubborn, isn't she?" Count Vertigo murmured to Wotan as Venus struggled against unconsciousness.

"Seems that way," Wotan chuckled darkly, as Venus finally fell limp against the ground. "But not strong."


When Venus regained consciousness, her arms were still bound by her sides. Everytime she wiggled, the burning cold of the pentagram bit into her flesh, already rubbed raw and bloody.

Grunting, Venus managed to roll onto her side and sit up onto her knees. She looked around blearily, her head pounding. She was in a golden cage – Wotan's doing, no doubt – surrounded by the rest of her team except for Miss Martian and Robin. She could only hope they were out there still, and not locked up like the rest of them.

Venus groaned, cracking her neck to try and alleviate some of her aches. She grimaced as the movement tugged at the pentagram, causing a fresh ooze of ichor to drip down from her bicep to her elbow.

"They awaken." Venus looked around as she heard Count Vertigo's voice. She blinked in shock, realizing that the cage wasn't on the ground as she'd thought, but in fact floating in the air and flying along. Around her, Aqualad was rising too, and other members of the Team were beginning to twitch awake. "You're certain this cage will hold them?"

"The cage is impenetrable," Wotan replied smugly from somewhere above them. "Even the Superboy has no chance of escaping, and certainly none of the others." Venus growled, wishing her arms were free so she could wipe the no-doubt stupid look off his face.

"You are not the only one trained in the mystic arts, Wotan," Aqualad snarled. He wrapped a hand around each bar, his eel tattoos glowing as electricity crackled around him and the bars. The bars wiggled slightly under Aqualad's strength, but ultimately Wotan's power was too great for him. He collapsed backwards, breathing hard as steam rose from his skin.

"Aqualad!" Venus hissed, instinctively trying to reach for him. She grimaced as the pentagram aborted her movement and caused a fresh stinging incision in her bicep.

"I am fine," the other teenager answered breathlessly, though he was wincing slightly. Above them, Wotan chuckled.

"Please, Atlantean. Do not pretend you're in my league."

"Venus," Aqualad whispered. "Can you break free?" Venus shook her head regretfully.

"The pentagram," she muttered, nodding towards her bonds. "It's blocking my powers and I can't break loose." Aqualad nodded, frowning as he looked around, trying to make a plan. Before he could, Miss Martian's triumphant voice rang in their heads.

'Get ready for a friendly incoming!' The Martian announced. The rest of the Team, on the verge of consciousness already, shot awake at the sound of Miss Martian's voice in their heads.

'What –' Before Kid Flash could finish his question, the BioShip swooped in from in front of them, knocking Wotan out of the sky and sending him crashing into the ground. As Wotan hit the swamp, he lost his concentration on the spells forming the cage and the pentagram.

The Team fell freely through the air, landing on the ground in various stages of gracefulness. Venus, for one, fell to her hands and knees in six inches of mud, grimacing as the dirty water stung the cuts on her arms.

But…at least she could move. Venus leapt to her feet, grinning darkly as she stretched out her stiff arms. Wotan was standing from where he'd fallen, shaking off the hit with a pained scowl on his face. Behind Venus, Artemis and Aqualad were facing off with Poison Ivy.

Venus instinctively reached for her whips, frowning when she realized they were gone. She'd gotten used to using them with her holy fire, an easy way to control the inferno that raged within her and outlet it during a fight.

"Ugh," Artemis said, who had also reached for her bow. "I feel naked. And not in the fun way."

"We will make our own fun," Aqualad responded. "As we have been trained. Manuever seven!" Artemis nodded, sprinting towards Aqualad to use his hands as a spring board. Venus left the two of them to face Ivy, and she walked towards Wotan.

Venus grinned, stepping towards Wotan as she took Aqualad's words to heart. She crossed her arms across her chest, beginning to focus.

"Make our own fun, eh?" she murmured. "Well. I've never been one for control anyways."

Without the limit of her whips to limit her power, and with Grim thousands of kilometers away in Happy Harbor and unable to anchor Venus, her holy fire expanded from her heart, glowing, and flickering around her in a halo of flames.

She spread her arms, lifting her head. Her eyes were open, display her natural eye socket-less face. As she grinned evilly, her holy fire lit up, dancing away inside the empty spaces where her alluring brown eyes had been before.

Wotan only grinned darkly, rising to the air.

"I admit it, young one," he called from where he was hovering above her. "I may have underestimated you. But you are no match for Wotan." He lunged at her, his golden mystic energy flying towards her in a blast.

Venus summoned her wings, her back cracking as the bones stretched formed along her back, spiraling outwards in all their glory.

These were not her beautiful, pure white angel wings that most of the Team had seen in the Tower of Fate. These were her demon wings, stripped of their feathers down to the delicate skin and bone, sharp talons exposed and gleaming as her holy fire danced around her.

The demon took to the air, dodging Wotan's powerful blast easily. She opened her arms summoning her fire down to her hand. The flames exploded out from her grasp, racing through the air towards her adversary.

Wotan deflected the blast with a glowing shield, but the surprise on his face told Venus she'd caught him off guard. She fired another blast, and another one, quickly after another while advancing closer to Wotan. Every blast she fired Wotan deflected, but with greater and greater sloppiness.

Venus grinned darkly as she flew right in front of Wotan, her wings beating downwards in strong strokes. She whipped her arm again, intending to lasso Wotan as she had done to other adversaries hundreds of times before.

Instead of forming a thin lasso like she was expecting, the flames burst out of her in an uncontrollable firestorm. She gasped, shock by the blaze, and more shocked as it receded quickly and completely, flames extinguishing around her and leaving her freezing cold and more exhausted than she'd ever felt.

"What in my Father's name…" she murmured, dizzy. She blinked, her eyes returning to the usual human-like brown. Wotan was staring at her in surprise, and dark amusement crossed his face as he realized what was happening.

Laughing darkly, Wotan flew forwards and grabbed her by the throat. She gasped, falling limp in his grip as her wings disappeared behind her, too tired to keep them on this plane. Venus choked, scrabbling at Wotan's throat.

"Did Venus Morningstar, Spawn of the Devil just burn out?" Wotan cackled. He shoved Venus downwards, throwing her out of the air and onto the ground. She gasped at the impact, mud splattering around her as she landed. Wotan landed besides her, dragging Venus up by her hair.

"Tell me," he asked her. "How many millennia did the great Lucifer Morningstar keep his daughter in the shadows for, too ashamed to show people how weak she truly was? Incapable of controlling the gift she was born with and too headstrong to learn to yield it effectively." Venus grunted, reaching up to grab Wotan's wrist to loosen his grip. Her fingers, wet with mud and blood, slipped uselessly as she struggled to pull him off of her.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she gasped out. Wotan frowned.

"How old are you then, really?" Wotan asked, tightening his grip on her hair. "You must be a young immortal to be so incapable. Tell me – one hundred? Don't tell me you're not even fifty."

"I turn - sixteen," Venus grunted. "This month!" Wotan's grip loosened on her hair for a moment, and he began to laugh darkly as he realized what she was saying. "No wonder you have no control," he said. "Let this be a cruel first lesson, Morningstar," Wotan said, sneering. "You burn too hot, you might burn yourself out." He let go of her hair, and Venus slumped to the ground, curling up on her side as pain rang through her body.

Venus wasn't sure how long she lay there, cheek pressed to the muddy ground as the fight raged around her. Time was passing so slowly - wait.

"Cassie?" She grunted, rolling over and turning around to look around blearily. Wotan had left her to help take down the others, clearly deeming her no longer a threat. "Cassie?" The ground spun beneath her and Venus braced her hand against the muddy ground. "Castiel!" She shouted as loud as she could. "Where are you? I need help…"

There was no response, and as Venus lifted her head she realized why. Castiel wasn't there. Time wasn't passing slowly, she was just drained and out of it. Venus slumped forward again, the cold mud against her arms somehow grounding her. Castiel wasn't there, but she needed him. She couldn't help her friends, he had to help her help them.

"My…My Archangel Castiel, hallowed by thy name Cousin – " Venus muttered. "Wait, no. That's not it. My Archangel cousin - Bloody Hell, Cassie, please, I need help."

Venus wasn't sure what was wrong with her, but she knew she needed to draw on Castiel's strength. Drained and injured as she was, she was no use to the Team. And she needed to help them.

"No!" Poison Ivy's piercing shriek penetrated through Venus's haze, and the demon's head shot up again. Out of her peripheral vision, she spotted the central control plant sprouting out of a giant conservatory behind the muddy swamp. It was twinkling with Robin's explosive birdarings, each one glowing in time with the countdown to the explosion.

There was a high-pitched buzzing sound as the bombs armed themselves, which did nothing to help Venus's own buzzing head. Despite this, Venus grinned as the plant erupted into flames and smoke, sending a shower of plant fragments down onto the battlefield. Robin and Miss Martian had done it.

"Kill them," Count Vertigo ordered, his face drawn tight with cold fury. "Kill them all."

"No," Venus muttered, trying to get to her feet. I'm supposed to help them, she thought, trying to remember how to work her limbs. I need to help my friends.

But she could only watch, helpless in her disoriented state, as Wotan struck each of her teammates one by one. He pinned them down with glowing bolts of electricity, incapacitating them from fighting back or helping one another.

As Venus watched, Aqualad leaned over Miss Martian, blocking both bolts of lightning Wotan had struck at them with each of his hands. Venus tilted her head to side, listening as Aqualad spoke to Miss Martian quietly.

"Plan B."

Plan B…the duffle bag…the Helmet of Fate!

Venus's eyes shot open, adrenaline rushing through her. She staggered to feet again, clutching her side and grimacing. Her enhanced vision let her see the faint shimmer of the BioShip as it soured through the night sky at Miss Martian's mental command, opening a hatch and allowing the duffle bag to fall through.

It was perfectly placed, so that it would've fallen into Aqualad's arms. Unfortunately, Black Adam saw it coming and leapt into the air, grabbing the duffle bag and pulling it close to his chest. Miss Martian frowned, her eyes glowing green as she brandished a hand at Black Adam, using her telekinesis to bring Adam crashing to the ground. The duffle bag hovered in midair under Miss Martian's mental command, but before she could bring it back to her and Aqualad, Wotan hit both of them again with his lightning.

Venus stepped forward, determinedly not falling to the ground again as the world rolled beneath her. It's no worse than being drunk, she told herself, quickening her pace towards the duffle bag. You've got plenty of practice.

Then, a new voice began to whisper in her ear. Wotan should never have underestimated you. You are stronger than he knows, stronger than you known. And you are stronger than he will ever be.

The voice was deeper than Venus's own, but so familiar. Strength surged through her and she rushed forwards.

"Venus!" Aqualad shouted, trying to sit up. He strained against Wotan's power. "The duffle bag!" Venus reached the duffle bag, picking it up unzipping it to bring out the Helmet of Fate. Aqualad reached for it desperately, but Venus held it away.

She lifted the Helmet up with shaking hands, staring at it. She caught sight of her reflection in the shiny metal. The scars on her face from the hellhound were in full view, and there was a narrow scratch on her forehead that was bleeding heavily.

Venus touched the cut absentmindedly, staring at the bright red liquid on her hand.

It's too light, she thought faintly to herself as she turned the Helmet around. Too human.

It is fine, the voice in her ear said. You are fine.

All of this passed in a split second, and Venus turned the Helmet and lifted it above her head. Wotan was turning towards her, horror crossing his face as he realized what she held.

"The Helmet of Fate…" he whispered. His momentary shock gave Venus the advantage she needed, leaping to the side before he could hit her with his lightning. Repositioning the Helmet above her head, Venus smirked at Wotan.

"I'll admit it, Wotan, you're pretty spry for your age," she told me as the Helmet's cool metal brushed her ears. She could see another lightning bolt racing towards her, but she knew it wouldn't get to her time. "Maybe I can't take you, not now, but I'm sure Fate can."

"No, Venus, don't!"

The warning cry left both Kid Flash's lips as he watched Venus lower the Helmet over her head. Before he could do anything, Black Adam knocked him aside, and the speedster went flying. He hit a tree and his arm gave way with a sickening crunch. Kid Flash grunted as he hit the ground, cradling his broken arm to his chest.

"Aw, dude," he muttered, his eyes fixed helplessly on Doctor Fate in Venus's body.

"Wotan," Fate intoned, flying towards the dark sorcerer, who had also stopped short in his shock. "You are mine!"


For Venus, the transformation was surprisingly like the few times Venus had worn her Halo. She felt almost weightless for a moment, and it was impossible to tell how quickly or slowly time was passing.

All of the sudden, Venus was no longer on the muddy battlefield. Instead, she was in a darkened room, illuminated only by one glowing spotlight that radiated a gentle blueish light. Venus looked around, unnerved. Besides the lack of pure whiteness, the room looked much like where she met her Grandfather whenever they spoke – what she referred to as his waiting room.

"Hello?" She called out, her voice wavering with an unusual wariness. "Is anyone here?"

Do not panic, the voice soothed.

"Hello, Venus." The demon whirled around at the other familiar voice, her eyes going wide as Kent Nelson approached her.

"S – sir," she stammered. She felt a stab of guilt, remembering what she'd said after his funeral. Well, that was a waste of time. Her silent apology to him was asking Castiel to escort him straight to his wife after Nabu released his soul to Heaven. Which he'd never know about until Nabu released his soul. Thus, and maybe even after, he'd think she was a grade-A dick.

"Sir?" Kent arched his eyebrows. "Well, well. Maybe it is possible to teach an old dog new tricks."

"I – " Venus looked around, confused. "Where am I? Did Fate not accept him as his host?" Kent frowned, confused by Venus's question. The demon swirled around, trying to figure out where Nabu was.

Before she could, a sharp pain rang through her side, making her grimace and press a hand to her waist. "What the Bloody Hell was that?" She asked, turning towards Kent with wide eyes.

"It's your body, kid," Kent said. "You're still along for the ride, even if you're not steering the car." Venus frowned.

"Along for the ride – you mean, I don't control Fate?" As she spoke the words, a rumble ran through the room, and she could feel Fate – the wave of his emotions a mixture of fury and disgust at her statement. Kent stared at Venus, incredulous.

"Oh, child. Did you not realize what happened when you wear the Helmet of Fate? All that trouble you went through in your attempt to steal it and you had no idea how it worked?" Venus felt an embarrassed heat to her face.

"I…" she trailed off, ashamed to admit that she'd been cocky enough to believe that her higher power would allow her control over Fate. She shook her head. "I'm sorry," she said quietly. Venus looked around, impatient. "Well, what's going on? Are my friends okay?"

Kent stared at Venus in amazement. He was shocked that she seemed to be actually concerned – and given her apology, genuinely repentant of her actions. Fate was aware of what was happening around the universe even without a human host, and he had shared with Kent Venus's assignment to the Team. Kent had been dubious if Venus would ever change, but maybe she had.

"Look," Kent said simply, motioning Venus towards the light source. Venus looked on it, blinking slightly. Her eyes widened when she realized what she was looking at. She could see the battle happening as if it was through her own eyes – but it was through the eyes of Fate.

"So…in the real world, Fate's looking through my eyes and, in this world, I'm looking through Fate's eyes looking through my eyes." A wave of vertigo washed over Venus. "Ugh."

Kent chuckled.

"Never thought of it that way," he admitted. Venus looked at Kent anxiously.

"So…Fate can, you know, handle this fight, right?" Kent arched an eyebrow at her, nodding pointedly at the battle again. Venus watched through Fate's eyes as he knocked Wotan out of the sky with glowing energy from his chest. The band wrapped around Wotan's chest, transforming into thick, golden chains.

"Better than you can, clearly," Kent replied drily. Venus sighed.

"Alright, mate, that was deserved, I admit it."

"Solvo quod reverto!" Wotan chanted, breaking free of Fate's chains. The dark sorcerer controlled the chains with his hand, launching them towards Doctor Fate. The Lord of Order raised his hand, summoning a golden ankh to absorb the attack. Wotan regained altitude, floating directly in front of his nemesis.

"Wotan has prepared for your return, Doctor," he said. "Fulmin venite!" He chanted, his hands glowing with electricity. Wotan launched it at the ankh, the blow so strong that it shattered the ankh completely. Venus winced as golden electricity danced around her body, taking the hit as Doctor Fate did.

"Bloody Hell, this sucks," she muttered, forcing herself to stand up straight. She looked back through Fate's eyes, watching as the Lord of Order fought Wotan.

"Your host body is on the side of darkness, Doctor," Wotan shouted, firing another blast at his enemy. "You are not at your strongest."

"My host is an agent of balance, not chaos," Doctor Fate replied. "And today she fights on the side of order." Doctor Fate fired another blast at Wotan, hitting him in the chest. "Surrender, sorcerer! You cannot hope to defeat a Lord of Order."

Doctor Fate launched another blast of energy at Wotan, and the villain disappeared into golden light. Fate frowned, realizing too late what had happened. When the Lord of Order turned around to where his adversary had teleported, Wotan was already preparing his next attack.

The mystic blast hit Doctor Fate squarely in the chest, causing the hero to fall out of the air before he managed to regain his balance. Inside the Helmet Venus winced, rubbing her chest.

"Oi, Fate, if you're not gonna let me fight at least be better at it, alright?" she shouted.

"Watch it, kid," Kent cautioned her.

"I can defeat you and I will!" Wotan shouted at Fate. The Lord of Order rose through the air again, preparing his next attack.

"Ekirts notoW nwod!" Venus's eyes widened when she heard the familiar voice. It was Zatara! The Leaguer's mystic blast knocked Wotan out of the air, and the villain fell to the ground. "Not tonight, Wotan," Zatara said imperiously.

As Venus watched through Fate's eyes, the entirety of the Justice League began to descend from the skies, those that couldn't fly being carried by platforms made by the Green Lanterns. The League joined ranks with the Team, surrounding the Injustice League in a tight corral.

Venus grinned.

"It's over," Batman said. The Injustice League looked at one another, and in silent agreement, rose their hands and surrendered.

"There will be another day," Count Vertigo said, scowling.

"Another day?" the Joker repeated. Venus realized that he was the only one who hadn't surrendered. "Another day?! There won't be another day! Not for any of us!" Laughing manically, the Joker lifted his hands to the air, wiggling his fingers as if he was playing the piano. Venus watched in horror as the plants rose out of the muddy water, the buds on the vines swelling large and bursting thick, green gas.

"Joker Venom spores! Don't breathe!" Batman shouted a warning, rushing forward and launching a powerful right hook at the still cackling Joker's face. The blow knocked the villain out cold, but there was nothing to be done about the gas already in the air.

"Do something!" Venus shouted, panicked.

"Fear not!" Doctor Fate said, to Venus's relief. The Lord of Order summoned another ankh, a glowing orb surrounding his body as he poured his and Venus's power into his magic. The poison gas began to filter up towards the ankh, filtering into the golden light source and dissipating harmlessly. As the last of the gas disappeared and the ankh fell away, Doctor Fate swooped closer to the crowd. "Fate as intervened!"

Venus let out a sigh of relief, bracing her hands against her knees as she finally relaxed. Even though she really wanted to roll her eyes at Doctor Fate's clear ego—not that she was really one to talk about egos—she managed to retain herself. Fate had, after all, saved her friends.

"Now what?" she asked Kent with a sigh, straightening back up.

"Now," Kent said, his brow furrowed. "Comes the part where Nabu decides whether or not to let you go."

"Let me go?" Venus repeated with a frown. Her mouth dropped open as she realized what Kent was saying. "Are you fucking kidding me? And this guy's a Lord of Order? You do know that angelic possessions require consent from the host and demonic possessions are the ones that don't!"

"Watch your mouth, Anael," said the rumbling voice of Doctor Fate. Venus grimaced, turning towards the glowing helmet in the center of the spotlight.

"Not you, too," she sighed, crossing her arms. "How do you know my name? Also, what the fuck? Let me go, please." Once again, Venus could feel Doctor Fate's anger as potently as she could when she pissed off her higher relatives. The Lord of Order was clearly much more powerful than Venus had ever realized.

"You are in many ways a good host," Doctor Fate said. "Young, strong, healthy, affinity for the mystic arts. Invulnerable. Immortal."

"And also, the Devil's kid," Venus snapped. "You really want Demon Spawn as your meat puppet?"

"You are also your Grandfather's grandchild," Doctor Fate said. "An agent of balance." Venus frowned.

An agent of balance. He'd called her that twice now.

She recalled her Grandfather's gift to her in Bialya, her Halo. Was that His way of giving her balance? Or was it His way of giving her a choice?

Do not fret, child, the voice in her ear soothed. Trust yourself.

Venus looked up at Doctor Fate pensively. She relaxed her shoulders and nodded at him, feeling oddly serene. She knew no decision could hurt her now.

"I accept whatever you choose," she said. "You know I cannot lie." The glow around the Helmet of Fate seemed to increase, and Venus frowned at the odd glee that she felt emanate from the Lord of Order. Maybe he was just happy to have a host.

"Very good, Anael," Doctor Fate said. "I will release you."

Venus blinked, her mouth falling open. She had not anticipated that. She glanced at Kent, who was frowning slightly. He looked disapproving, not confused.

"What -?" Already she could feel the pull of reality as Doctor Fate removed the helmet from Venus's head. Kent smiled at her sadly.

"Good luck, kid." His voice was fading. "I forgive you, and tell Wally I say hello – "

Venus blinked her eyes open, staring at the Team and League through her own eyes at last. Kid Flash was yelling.

"Venus will be trapped inside Doctor Fate forever!" The speedster finished his rant, lowering his gaze. Venus smiled, chuckling slightly. The sound of her laugh, unhindered by Doctor Fate, made Kid Flash's head shoot up. Venus stood in front of them, holding the helmet in her hands.

"Loves, purgatory's not that bad, I promise," Venus said, grinning. Superboy whipped towards her, relief pouring through him as he saw his girlfriend again. He hadn't realized the danger she was in until Kid Flash had just told them, and now that she was safe he was glad for that.

"Vee!" he said, stepping towards her. She was covered in mud, and she looked exhausted and a little dazed, but she shot him her usual cheerful smile.

"I'm fine, Con, promise," she murmured. He smiled at her, carefully taking some of her weight as he helped her over to the others. Kid Flash ran up to her. The evident relief on his face made Venus feel strangely fond.

"Nabu let you go?" He said in surprise. Venus smiled as airily as she could, determined not to let her expression flicker as she recalled the disconcerting conversation she'd had with the Lord of Order.

"Guess he decided the whole 'Daughter of the Devil' and 'Lord of Order' thing don't exactly go hand-in-hand," Venus said with a shrug, careful to keep any certain statements out in case it read as a lie. She smiled at Kid Flash again. "Your friend Kent says hello."

"You're bleeding!" Artemis said in surprise as the rest of the Team joined Kid Flash, Venus, and Superboy. None of them had ever seen Venus physically injured before. Venus frowned, swiping the liquid off her arm absent-mindedly. The scratch on her head had already healed but the burns on her arms would take longer, due to pentagram.

"Side effect of Wotan's pentagram," she muttered, raising her hand to her face to look. She was feeling much better and was hoping it would be back to its normal sludgy black-red state instead of the thin red blood she'd been bleeding from her forehead earlier. "One of the only things that can hurt me –" she cut off suddenly, her eyes going wide.

Her blood, her ichor – it was gold.

"What's wrong?" Superboy asked anxiously, looking at his girlfriend. Venus's heart was hammering in her chest.

"Not—," she choked on the word nothing, the throat burning. "Um, I'm not sure. I'm fi – it'll be fine." She rubbed the golden blood away from her hand, feeling sick. She was a demon, not an angel. She was a young immortal, and she had known her blood ran red when she was badly injured – she remembered it happening when the hellhound had attacked her – but why was her blood gold?

She looked down at her clothes. The bloodstains from the initial wound were still on her clothes, the drying smudges as sickly dark as she'd expected, even against the black cloth. In stark contrast, the fresh golden ichor left spots that almost glowed.

It was as if after hosting Doctor Fate, her physiology had changed.

Shh, the voice soothed, and Venus took a deep breath.

The Team was still watching her anxiously, but Venus just shook her head. She barely heard Batman dismissing the Team, complimenting their performance as "satisfactory," before filing back with the rest of the Team to the BioShip. She was mulling Nabu's words over in her head.

An agent of balance…


MOUNT JUSTICE
October 2, 03:41 EDT

After taking a long, hot shower and changing into her comfiest clothing, Venus left her quarters, carrying the duffle bag with the helmet in it. Kaldur and Wally saw her from the common area, and the two of them got up to follow her.

Venus was placing the helmet back on the shelf when the two boys entered. Kaldur stepped forward apprehensively. He felt guilty about what had happened, angry at himself for risking the life of a teammate - even if it hadn't been intentional.

"Venus," he said. "I wanted to apologize. It was never my intention to let you or anyone else wear the Helmet. I knew of the risks, though the others did not." Venus smiled at the Atlantean, waving off his apology easily.

"Kaldur. It was never my intention to let you or anyone else wear the helmet." She raised her eyebrows at the other boy. "Capeesh?" Kaldur looked startled for a minute, and then he smiled.

"You are not the Team's leader," he reminded her, his voice light. Venus grinned, winking at him.

"True. But I am your guardian angel." Wally and Kaldur both laughed, and Wally put a hand on her shoulder.

"I'm glad you're back, Vee," he told her. Venus smiled at him, again touched by his honesty.

"Thank you," she said quietly. She glanced back at the Helmet. "You know what's funny?" Venus asked, staring at the Helmet pensively. "I can't even remember why I tried to nick the bloody thing in the first place. Honestly, I think I just fancied it because I caught wind that Klarion did." There was a moment of silence, and then Wally, Kaldur and Venus all burst out laughing.

"Well," Venus said, after they'd calmed down. "I suppose I'm glad I tried to steal it, anyways." She glanced back at her friends, offering them a small smile. Kaldur smiled back.

"We are glad as well."

I am glad that you are happy.


MOUNT JUSTICE
October 3, 19:03 EDT

There was a gentle knock on Venus's door.

"Come in," she called. The door opened and Conner stepped in. Grimalkin leapt up from the bed to greet him, and Conner obliged the cat with a few gentle scratches behind the ears.

"Hi, Grim," he said with a grin. He looked at Venus. "Uh – you look really nice." Venus smiled, glancing down at her outfit. She was wearing tan dress trousers with a very subtle brown gingham pattern, a white silk bralette and an oversized blazer that matched the trousers. "Where are you going?" Conner asked.

"Oh," she said, smiling at Conner as she slid the backing onto her earring. "Drinks with my dad. Last minute thing." She nodded at his inside out shirt, knowing he only wore it to Conner Kent related activities. "What about you?" Conner glanced down, smiling.

"Oh – study group for history?" he said it like a question. "M'gann thought it would be good to hang out with our, uh, friends from school." Venus smiled.

"That sounds nice," she said. "Have fun." Conner smiled back.

"Thanks," he said. "You too." He pecked her on the lips before murmuring a goodbye and leaving down the hallway. Venus watched him go, her heart strangely heavy. She wondered if M'gann was better for Superboy than she was.

Sighing, Venus shook that thought off and stepped into her high heels. She picked up her pocketbook and headed for the Zeta Tubes.

Venus went to New Orleans, of course. It was one of her favorite places ever, so much so that she'd brought property there – well, her father had bought her property there. She walked into her apartment, tossing her pocketbook on the entry table, and headed towards the parlor. Her heels clicked gently against the floor as she entered the room. There was a small table with a deck of cards and an ash tray on it, and a sitting chair on either side of the table. Venus scooped up two glasses and the crystal decanter full of her father's favorite scotch. She added an ice cube to each glass and filled them with scotch, placing one in front of either chair.

Venus sat down in her chair and lit a cigarette, waiting for her father to arrive. She hoped it wouldn't be too long. She didn't want the ice to melt.

Venus took one more drag from her cigarette and then stubbed it out. She almost never smoked the whole thing. The demon closed her eyes, inhaling deeply and letting the last breath of smoke curl from her lips. As she breathed out, she felt her father arrive.

"You know, you could have just met me at home," Lucifer said. Venus shook her head, her eyes still closed.

"No way," she said, rolling her eyes. The movement made the delicate skin of her eyelids flicker. "I wanted to meet you on my grounds, and Mount Justice has a strict no alcohol rule. Besides, it's not like it matters to you."

"Of course it matters to me," he replied, rolling his eyes at his daughter's headstrong nature. "You don't think I want to see my only child?" Venus scoffed.

"You sent me away."

"Not forever," Lucifer replied, amused by Venus's dramatics. "And you know I've been keeping tabs on you – that's why you're here! And I know you didn't ignore me for the past six weeks, even after that thoughtful gift – "

"You mean the piano you already bought me fourteen years ago?" Venus asked, rolling her eyes.

"You mean your favorite possession that I moved cross-country for you!" Lucifer sang, holding up a finger. "I wasn't finished, dear." Venus sighed, falling silent again. "As I was saying, I know you didn't ignore me for six weeks and then ask to have a drink just to moan to me about your punishment. If you were so upset you'd have given up after six hours." Venus laughed despite herself.

"Six weeks is nothing," she said. "I went eight once, remember?" Lucifer groaned good-naturedly, and Venus laughed again.

"Longest eight weeks of my immortal life," Lucifer said with a sad smile. It was true. Though many—including all his family—questioned his parenting, he did love Venus. She was his daughter, after all. He knew how he had to raise her, but it didn't make it easier when she was mad at him.

"You're right, though," Venus said after a moment of silence. "I came here because I wanted to say thanks." She lifted her class, clinking it gently against the one she'd filled her father, still sitting on the table opposite her. Her eyes were distant as she lifted the glass in the air.

"Cheers, Father," Venus said, taking a sip. "Thanks for giving me the strength." She paused, and then added, more quietly. "Thanks for hearing me," she whispered.

In Los Angeles, Lucifer Morningstar grinned, crossing one his legs as he took a sip of his own scotch. He was in his office, dressed to the nines in a crisp suit. He glanced at the other side of the table, where a glass of scotch was filled for his daughter.

"My dear, I will always hear you," he promised his daughter. "But you have never needed my strength. Only your own - and maybe some advice from dear old Dad to unlock it."

Venus smiled at the familiar voice in her ear.

"Thank you, Father."


YAY okay i really hope this chapter didn't disappoint. i went pretty deep into my lore for venus in this chapter but i hope it all makes sense! anyways, now on to responding to reviews:

To HeavenlyMonster: Thank you so much! I love Venus's complexity, and I delved into a bit deeper in this (very VERY delayed) update!

To Natalie Jarrett: Hi! Yes I am back again! Hopefully will be back soon too! And yes Artemis and M'gann...that will be interesting.

To GirlNextDoor01: Thank you! Venus had a lot of sides and lot of adjusting to do, poor bb. Glad you're enjoying it 3

To HeavenedWolf: Thank you so much! And yes - all the lies in season one plus Venus the lie detecting demon will be very funn...

To akagami himi chan: thank you so much! I'm glad you think they're cute!

To Hoodedgenius98: mostly based off of the TV show Lucifer!

To Layla347: Yay! Soft and edgy Venus are both so fun, I'm glad you like both! Thank you!

To jacksonwang: aaaaaaAAAAAA (love your username omg)

To AnEmIg-Chan: Muchas gracias! I'm so glad you liked Venus's complicated sides hehe 3

To DashingxRogue: Thank you! I get what you mean, I think it can be a cute storyline but also its fun to see people stay true to themselves. :) We'll see where Venus goes!

To bgradaille: yes! i think that's spot on, she's definitely learning a lot about compassion. thank you!

To Aka IV: omg that would be amazing...maybe in like season 7 XD

To Guest: Thank you so much! I will definitely be continuing to update this and Iron Justice as well as several of my other stories - time to work is limited for me but I do love these stories.

ANYWAYS thank you all so much for reviewing and please drop another one (or new people, please review too!) and let me know what you think! i love all feedback 3

happy holidays everyone! i really really really hope to see you in the year of 2022 and not after 3 i will do my best to update faster.