Took me a while to write this one. Kept getting stuck. Lots of characters to work with.
Anyway, so I'm sure I had a lot to say but I really can't remember. It's 6:30am (sleep is a myth) and I've been writing since about 1:00am, so my brain is a little out right now. I'm sure you understand. The only thing I can really think of, is my PMs have been reaaaally weird lately. I've stopped getting email notifications when I get a PM so it can take me a while to see it (and thus respond) and also I'm not 100% sure my PMs go through when I do respond. The last like 8 pms I've sent have all had no response. Oh well.
Putting that aside, I'd like to thank all of you for all of the kinds words you said on the last chapter. I was really in a dark place, and you all helped pull me out. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
Boring stuff out of the way, I'll let you get to the chapter now. I really like it, hopefully you all will too. Read and review, of course.
"Last time you left this place was on a stretcher, right kiddo? Maybe don't overdo it now that your mom's here, huh? Oh, and God. Can't forget God."
Azazel good-naturedly rubbed Issei's left shoulder with his right hand as the group rode the elevator up to Shangri-La. The Fallen General stood in the front, with Issei on his right and Lisa Lisa on his left. Raynare stood on the other side of Issei, while Kalawarner and Elsa stood behind them all.
Elsa was jittering excitedly, Kalawarner looked a little on edge, Raynare was wearing Issei's arm, and Lisa Lisa just chuckled. They were all dressed in fine clothes, except the Heavenly Mother herself- she was wearing the same blue and white sari she'd worn to the peace summit.
"Did you tell them we're coming?" Issei asked, looking back at Elsa.
"Of course! I wanted them to get everything ready!" The angel was beyond elated, which made Issei a little nervous.
"...'Everything'?" Raynare echoed quietly in apprehension.
Issei nodded sadly, still coming to terms with the fact that they were in for an interesting time.
The elevator dinged, signaling their arrival to the true location of Shangri-La. Before anyone could even move, Elsa practically flew out the doors, nearly trampling her son and daughter-in-law in the process.
"She's too excited for this." Kalawarner remarked dryly. She'd resigned herself to being a semi third-wheel months ago, but this felt like a new level, even if it wasn't weird for her to be at her best friends' engagement party.
"It's her son's engagement party, she's allowed to be a little excited. Come." Lisa Lisa was the next out, everyone following behind her.
"Reservations for the Hyoudou party?" Elsa was already a little too close to the waiter, who responded as professionally as ever.
"Ah, of course. Right this way, everyone. And might I say, it's wonderful to see you once again in good health Miss Elsa." The waiter bowed and began to lead the party to their table, chatting with Elsa the whole way there.
As the group rounded the corner and came face to face with the general populace of Shangri-La, it became apparent that Elsa had done a little more than tell them about reservations.
There were white streamer-esque decorations hanging from every spot they could (surprisingly quite a few, given that there was no real roof) and the usual crowd had gathered, dressed in even-more-formal attire, if there was ever such a thing. All eyes were on the couple, and quite a few rousing shouts went up in their celebration.
"Oh...wow." This was Kalawarner's first time in Shangri-La, so she was a bit awestruck.
"Welcome, welcome! Oh, it is good to see you again my friends!" Abdalla was the first to approach, throwing Issei, Raynare, and Elsa into a large hug. He backed away after a second, looking up and down at Elsa. "Truly, dearest Elsa, I thought you were lost…" The man's face lit up once more when he noticed Lisa Lisa to the side. "...but I see you keep better company than most!" He waved to her, and the old woman cackled and waved back in response, entertained by the gentle giant's display of jollyness.
There was a bigger than normal table set up for the group's reservation, and Abdalla quickly ushered them to it. Raynare and Issei sat at the head, with Azazel and Elsa to one side of them and Kalawarner and Lisa Lisa to the other. On the other end of the table, there were two more empty chairs.
It only made Kalawarner a little anxious sitting next to the God of Heaven.
Just a little.
Of course, remembering how thoroughly she'd been defeated in Super Smash Bros of all things did pretty well to quash that line of thinking.
After they were all seated, Abdalla quickly left, going to talk with both the staff and other guests about the celebration.
"So, uh...what do you do at an engagement party?" Issei rubbed his head with a grimace, not really knowing what his part in all this was. His mother was up in arms the moment she'd had the idea, but she wasn't one to stop and explain once her mind was running, so they'd stayed relatively light on actual details.
"Oh, plenty! You'll have to announce your engagement, give some details on the big day, make a toast and a speech, a couple little things-"
"Stop right there! I have to give a speech?!" Issei was flabbergasted by his mother's revelation, which she'd only just mentioned for the first time.
"...or Raynare could do it. It's just typical of these kinds of things for the bride and groom to both say a piece, not to mention they know you better than they know her. Well, I suppose typically the bride's parents are supposed to throw the celebration in the first place, but…"
All eyes turned to Raynare, who half-heartedly blew a party-blower with a deadpan expression. It made nothing more than a pitiful wheezing noise.
After all, everyone there knew her parent(s) weren't likely to attend, being that there was only one (technically not even her parent in the usual sense) and he was also super dead.
Besides, Raynare didn't even know if she'd have wanted him there to begin with. Had she thought of the first biblical God as her father? Yes, like all pure Angels.
But, when he'd cast her from Heaven over something she'd really had no control over, she'd gradually stopped seeing him like that. Even now, if he'd suddenly shown up, she didn't know how she'd feel. A real father wouldn't have abandoned his daughter like that, not on his life.
"Regardless, I think you'll be fine. Haven't you performed in front of this crowd before anyway?" Elsa's words broke Raynare out of her thoughts, bringing her back to the moment.
"Yeah, but...that's different than standing up and giving a speech."
"Then do that again! Give a song instead, if that's easier!" Elsa exclaimed. She'd been a little sorry she'd missed the first time he'd performed aloud anyway. Lisa Lisa had been quick to show her the video, though.
"No way, last time I sang I ended up viral!"
"I hate to interrupt, but might I interject with some wine?"
The French server from the first time they'd visited Shangri-La, Pierre, was alongside the table with a cart of wine bottles. Elsa squealed, standing up and hugging the smaller man. He eagerly returned the hug, then the two exchanged a friendly European style double cheek kiss.
"I've reserved your favorite, madame, not to worry! Ze moment I heard you were coming, I was véhément! Nothing but ze best for ze great Doctor Elsa! Not to mention, ze lovely bride and her fetching groom! Magnifique! Enjoy enjoy, all on ze house! Congrats on ze wedding, and mark my words monsieur Hyoudou, if I see you disrespecting my wine again, I will hang you by your entrails! Adieu!"
(Note to any French people reading this: the stereotypical movie accent is what I'm going for here, sorry if this hurts anyone's feelings. Désolés.)
While he was talking, Pierre and his assistants had pulled two bottles of wine from the cart and filled everyone's red and white glasses to the brim, then retreated with expert precision once he was done speaking.
Raynare's eyes twinkled as she watched Issei swirl the red wine around in his glass, delighted at the prospect of getting him blackout drunk again. Drunk Issei would do things sober Issei would get a nosebleed at the mere mention of.
If one could see her wings, they'd be flickering between silver and black.
"Now would be the time for a speech, I think." Azazel pointed towards the crowd of party-goers/Shangri-La regulars, who were for the most part looking expectantly at Issei's group.
"Wait, seriously? We haven't even had a chance to breathe yet!" Issei whispered insistently towards Azazel, extremely uncomfortable at the prospect of giving a speech in front of even these people. The Governor-General shrugged.
"Up to you, but I'd do it now. A greeting, at least."
"I...fine."
Issei stood up, patting his suit down in a fruitless attempt to divert attention. The crowd quieted as he stood, waiting for him to speak.
'Crowd' may be a strong description. About forty people, including staff, was gathered all around the high-rise restaurant in no particularly large cluster. Most were there for the party through some connection or another, whether direct or not, but a strong few were merely eating a good meal. Regardless of their intentions, everyone there focused on Issei.
"Uh...hi. Big thanks to everyone for coming by. We couldn't- that is, me and Raynare, my fiance- be happier to announce our engagement."
Raynare stood up beside him, waving towards the crowd with a mostly-fake smile. She was far less shy than Issei, but disliked the spotlight nonetheless. That said, she wouldn't shirk from helping share their attention if it would give Issei a bit of a break.
"Some of you may have seen me bring her here a while back on our first date, and I think we may have introduced her as Yuuma, do to circumstances outside our control- but just in case that did happen, first thing's first, I'd like to formally clear any misunderstandings. This is Raynare, soon to be Raynare Hyoudou, my fiance and the absolute love of my life."
The crowd lightly applauded, some of them cheering a bit for the couple. Unbeknownst to Issei, there had been quite a bit of betting going on between the patrons of Shangri-La as to whether or not they'd stay together. A fair amount of money would be changing hands tonight, now that the bets were settled.
As Issei continued, Azazel watched with a bit of a questioning look on his face. For someone who's so shy, he sure was nailing the impromptu speech. Lisa Lisa, noticing his confusion, pointed towards Issei's red wine glass.
It was already completely empty.
Azazel quietly burst into laughter, trying his best not to cause a scene during the boy's speech. No wonder the words were flowing so readily.
"Secondly I'd like to invite everyone to order whatever they'd like from Monsieur Pierre, as our treat- it would hardly be a party otherwise, am I right?" Issei's slightly-slurred speech was met with a resounding round of applause and a fair bit of laughter, as most of the people noticed by this point that he was becoming a little tipsy.
"Third and last- uh, I forgot. Thanks for coming, and feel free to come visit with us!" Issei put his hands up and grinned, mirrored by the excited crowd. He sat down hastily, looking beyond pleased with himself.
"Really, twerp? You couldn't give a speech without getting shitfaced?" Kalawarner pointed towards his empty glass with a smirk.
Issei shrugged with a grin, fully aware he'd cheated a bit.
Raynare snorted a laugh and sat down beside him, albeit far more gracefully than he had.
"You're lucky Pierre didn't see you down that wine, he'd hang you by your entrails!" Raynare mimicked Pierre's accent, making Issei laugh.
"I feel like I probably shouldn't condone underage drinking, but maybe this time is alright. Maybe."
Of all people, Police Officer/Limo Driver Yoshikage clapped Issei on the back, surprising both him and Raynare.
"Officer Yoshikage, wow, how've you been?" Issei asked with a smile, not at all expecting to see him there but pleased nonetheless.
"Hey hey hey, Yoshi's fine. And I've been good! Remember how I mentioned the mayor taking me here a while back?"
Issei and Raynare nodded, thinking back to the time he'd taken them to the police station the day after their first date.
"Yeah, well, we're a thing now." Yoshikage pointed a finger towards one of the tables nearest the edge of the roof, where a prim and proper Japanese woman with rectangular-rimmed glasses was sitting by herself. She waved at the couple, noticing their gaze turn her way.
"Huh. Congrats." Raynare said, a little dumbfounded as she halfheartedly waved back. She hadn't thought someone like a mayor could just date any random police officer/limo driver.
"Yeah, I'm pretty psyched. But hey, congrats to you guys! I definitely didn't expect an engagement party tonight, that's for sure!"
"Well, that's what you get for expecting." Lisa Lisa chimed in, winking at Yoshikage.
Yoshi chuckled in disbelief. "Man, you guys know Ms. Lisa too? Small world." He tipped his head respectfully towards her. Issei and Raynare shared an odd glance. Just how did a cop know God?
"Hey, do you still have the same number? We'll be sending out wedding invites at some point." Issei asked.
"Sure do, and I'd be glad to come! Just let me know. Ah, anyway, I figure I better go back over to the missus now. Great talking to you guys, congrats again."
Yoshikage headed back over to his girlfriend's table, leaving the party by themselves.
"Are you all ready to order?"
WIthout anyone save Lisa Lisa noticing, a waiter had approached from behind with a notepad in hand.
"Oh, yes. Here's what we'll have-"
Lisa Lisa began to order for everyone at the table, surprising them all. No one had even so much as looked at a menu yet, but she knew exactly what they all wanted.
"That's God for you, I guess…" Raynare mumbled under her breath, unnerved by how accurately Lisa Lisa had ordered for her.
"Quite the party."
"Yeah, it's not half bad."
Sona Sitri and Rias Gremory had just came out of the elevator, looking all around. Rias had on a snazzy red dress, Sona a beautiful grey one. Both were flanked by members of their peerages, Akeno and Matsuda with Rias and Tsubaki alongside Sona.
"Did you invite them?" Raynare asked Issei. She wasn't unhappy to see them, but she hadn't thought to text them.
Issei shook his head. He felt the same way she did. Rias, Sona, Tsubaki, Matsuda and Akeno were all friends of theirs, but he hadn't planned the night out enough to think of inviting them. He went to wave the group down, but surprisingly enough Azazel beat him to it.
"Hey, glad you all made it." The governor general stood up and moved to greet them.
Now, what happened next was a bit of a blur. Not a single person present knew exactly what transpired, except that there was a flash of pink and black and blue, and Issei was on his back on the ground.
"Heeeeey! I never got the chance to say it, but your fight with the White dork was sooooo cool!"
"Lady Leviathan, it would behoove you to show some manners to the party's host."
Serafall Leviathan and Sirzechs Lucifer had also made an appearance. The older Sitri sister was the one who'd tackled Issei, her eyes gleaming with admiration.
Raynare unceremoniously peeled the devil king off her fiance's chest and tossed her to Sirzechs, who grabbed her shoulders to keep her from blitzing the poor boy again. Not for her lack of trying, as her struggle to flee his grip was plain to see.
Issei's fiance only sneered a little bit as she helped him off the ground.
"Thanks for the invite, Azazel. Serafall was all too eager to come, and I myself was quite interested."
"Wait, really? Why? We barely know each other." Issei asked, wondering why the Devil Kings would even bother coming to their party. He dusted off his suit jacket, a little confused. He didn't necessarily have a problem with their attendance, it was just unexpected.
"We wouldn't miss the Red Dragon's engagement party for the world!" Serafall answered a little too fast, foaming at the mouth. Truth be told, she'd been an avid fan of Issei's ever since the first video of him singing dropped online. He was a picture perfect idol, and she wanted him on her TV show more than life itself.
"She's right. This event has more weight than you know. We're far from the only supernatural ones here, I assure you." Sizechs gestured to one table in particular, farthest from Issei's. Sitting there were none other than Michael the Archangel and what Issei could only assume was another angel sitting next to him. Lisa Lisa's right hand man waved back with a smile, noticing he'd been found out.
"I...uh." Issei's butterflies suddenly returned, realizing he was once again in the spotlight. Azazel had mentioned that he'd become a bit of a celebrity after his fight with Vali, but he hadn't expected anything like this.
"I wouldn't stress about it. After all, it is still your party." Azazel clapped Issei on the back, trying to reassure him. No matter who walked through the door, tonight was still about he and Raynare.
He was just about to agree with Azazel, when someone entirely unwelcome walked out of the elevator.
Issei's eyes widened as he saw Vali Lucifer enter the crowd. He glanced to Raynare, and one look told him she'd seen it too.
"Ah, ah, ah. Don't you go starting a problem, young man." Lisa Lisa was quick to diffuse any potential thoughts of battle. "He's not here to fight. You've made sure of that. Go talk to him, or don't. He won't make trouble."
Issei looked once more to Vali, who'd taken a seat on the edge of the roof looking down over the Kuoh nightlife. He nodded at Issei, acknowledging the other dragon's presence but doing no more than that before looking back out over the city.
A flick in the elbow brought Issei back to the moment. Looking to his side, he saw Kalawarner pointing at a waiter fast approaching with trays of food. The boy spared one last glance towards his so-called nemesis, then warily sat down to enjoy dinner with his family.
Another glass of wine later
"A tv show?" Issei asked, interest sparkling in his slightly-intoxicated eyes.
"Yeah! The number one rated show in the whole underworld! The devil youth all absolutely loved your anti-bullying thingy when you fought Vali, so I think you should make a cameo! You may even be able to sing!"
Serafall Leviathan had taken the liberty of commandeering one of the now-empty chairs next to Issei, trying to talk him into appearing as a guest star in her show. Lisa Lisa and Elsa were both off conversing with guests, while Kalawarner and Azazel were drinking at the open bar. Only Raynare and Issei were left of the original group, which they were fine with.
"Serafall, I think I see a magical girl over there." Raynare said with fake enthusiasm, pointing over to one corner of the restaurant with a lot of people.
"Where?!"
Serafall was gone in a flash, leaving the two alone.
"Having fun yet?" Raynare asked sarcastically, grinning.
"I'll admit...It's not as awful as I thought it'd be."
Raynare hummed in agreement, nestling her head on Issei's shoulder as they both just enjoyed each other's company.
"You gonna talk to him?"
"What do you think?"
"I think it's taking everything in me not to go push him off the roof."
Issei laughed. Raynare's snark was one of her most attractive features.
"Yeah, me too. But I guess I should, huh? At least see why he came."
"Probably. But I don't think anyone would hold it against you if you didn't. After all, it's our night, not his. If he'd had his way, we wouldn't have been able to be here enjoying it."
"You make a good point." Issei tilted his head onto Raynare's, relishing the softness of her raven hair.
"And he's a prick."
Issei laughed.
"Definitely a prick."
"So what's it gonna be, loverboy?"
"I'll do it later. I'm busy at the moment."
"Damn right you are."
"Aw, look at the lovebirds! Somebody get a picture!" One of the people in the crowd shouted out, and before Issei could even react several phone-cameras flashed. He sighed, but didn't move.
"Dang. They got us." He mumbled, putting his arm around Raynare's waist.
"What are you gonna do about it?"
"Beat em up."
Raynare put her arm around his neck in return.
"All of them?"
"Every last one."
"You dork."
"Your dork."
"My dork."
With all the love in the world between them, Raynare and Issei shared a small kiss atop Shangri-La, both as tranquil as could be. A couple shouts of encouragement accompanied the display, but neither of the two really paid them any mind.
"Hey hey, how about a song?!"
"Sing us a song!"
That got Issei's attention. It was definitely Serafall and Elsa's voices, but they were drowned out by a chorus of agreement too fast for him to call the two out.
"Uh oh." The poor groom said, not really feeling another viral video.
Raynare smirked. "Uh oh is right." She didn't really care either way, but she wouldn't mind seeing him sing again as long as it wouldn't make him too uncomfortable.
The crowd seemed almost feral, and Issei was positive he heard kalawarner, Lisa Lisa, and several of his friends call out for him to sing.
"You gonna give me another song, you damn romeo?" Raynare mumbled in good humor. She knew he was popular with the ladies and another song wouldn't help, but she didn't have any intention of letting that get in their way.
"I guess I have to, huh?"
"Looks that way. Knock 'em dead. Give our daughter something to watch when she's bored."
"Daughter?"
Issei barely had time to process the words as a waiter handed him a guitar. Apparently it had been decided that he was singing whether he wanted it or not, and the staff had moved to equip him with a guitar with haste.
"Welp, good thing I drank the wine." Issei mumbled under his breath as he tuned up the guitar. The crowd, even those not attending the party, were dead silent as everyone watched him intently.
He didn't even move from his spot beside Raynare. He threw his right arm around her and snaked his hand to the guitar, aiming for her to share the spotlight with him this time to make it clear who he was really singing for.
(AN: Google "Tangled up in you acoustic" and that's this.)
"You're my world~, a shelter from the rain…"
"You're the pills~, that take away my pain…"
"You're the light~, that helps me find my way…"
"You're the words~, when I have nothing to say…"
"But in this world~, where nothing else is true…"
"Here I am~, still tangled up in you~..."
"I'm still tangled up in you…"
A look of absolute bliss was on Issei's face as he sang, and even though he didn't face her Raynare knew exactly who he was talking to. The whole world would too, as just about every soul in the place had a camera out…
...including Raynare.
A quick selfie to hang in the house wouldn't hurt anything, right?
"You're the fire~, that warms me when I'm cold…"
"You're the hand I have to hold as I grow old…"
"You're the shore~, when I've been lost at sea…"
"You're the only thing that I like, about me…"
"And in this world~, where nothing else is true…"
"Here I am~, still tangled up in you~! I'm still tangled up in you~..."
"How long has it been? Since this story line, began…"
"And I hope it never ends~! And goes like this forever~!"
"In this world where nothing else is true…"
"Here I am, still tangled up in you~! Tangled up in you…"
"I'm still tangled up in you…"
"Still tangled up in you…"
Issei whispered the last line straight into Raynare's ear, sending her poor heart aflutter.
Not a moment after, the crowd roared to life with shouts of admiration and awe. Clapping and shouting and yelling and whistling were just some of the things the boy had to endure, having rekindled his fame.
As he handed the guitar off to a staff member, he sighed. "Honestly I should've expected something like this. Feels like just my luck."
"Oh yeah, poor you. A celebrity with a smoking hot fiance, you've got it rough."
Issei laughed. "Well, when you put it like that…"
Slowly but surely, the crowd died down and went back to doing whatever they had been before. An encore or second song was obviously out of the question, so they didn't press him for anything. Several of them were too busy uploading the video to YouTube to bother him anyway.
"Hey, so what's this about a daughter?"
"Just a hunch."
"A hunch?"
"A mother always knows."
It gave the both of them butterflies when Raynare addressed herself as a mother. It still felt so surreal, that their child was growing inside her every day.
"That was amazing! I'm so proud of you!"
Elsa practically picked Issei up in a hug, having snuck up on him while the couple was talking. She'd been waiting to hear him sing ever since she'd seen the video of the first time, and was more moved than she expected to be.
"Not half bad at all, kiddo. You'll have quite a following." Azazel was waving his phone around, and it had Issei's face on the screen.
"Great…" Issei was one step short of outright groaning, not wanting to be in the spotlight again. He just hoped this time he wouldn't have girls hounding him, since Raynare was literally in his arms while he sang.
"Well, enjoy the rest of your party. I'll be at the bar if you need me. Elsa, why don't you come too?"
"Oh, fine."
Azazel and Elsa retreated, leaving the couple alone again.
"I guess it's about time."
"Yeah."
"He's still on the edge of the roof over there."
"Wonder what he's thinking."
"You get to go find out. I'm gonna find Kalawarner and see if we can't get some real wine." Raynare winked, and Issei shuddered at the thought of Raynare getting her hands on 'real wine.'
Issei set his sights on his true rival, Vali Lucifer. He was in the same spot he'd been for quite a while now, sitting not on a table or stool but on the edge of the roof. No one seemed to pay him any mind, but he wasn't bothering anyone either.
Issei approached him from behind, unsure of what he'd even say. Vali noticed him coming, gesturing to his left side for Issei to sit beside him. He did.
They were both sitting on the edge, legs hanging over the side of the roof with nothing below them but Kuoh Town.
"Nice party."
"Ah, thanks. Not really my idea, but I can't say it isn't fun."
"I'm sure. It's a nice night for this kind of thing."
"Yeah...it is."
Issei wasn't really sure the person he was talking to was still Vali. He was so...somber. So quiet, so tranquil. Nothing remained of the hot-tempered battle maniac from before. He was wearing a laid-back black and white suit, nothing special or flashy.
"I had a dream, you know."
"What was it?"
"To be the strongest. In the whole world."
"Is that why you attacked me?"
"Yeah."
"What's your dream now?"
"I have no idea. But I think I'm beginning to see."
"See what?"
"What it should be," Vali sighed. "I never had an easy life. For a long time, strength was all I knew or recognized. But now, you've shown me something better. Something more real than just power."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"So just like that, you're done with your dream?"
"Yeah. Not my dream anymore."
"I...I'm glad to hear that."
Issei didn't really know what to say. What was it about him that made his bullies pour their hearts out?
"I figured you would be."
They sat in silence for a bit, just taking in the sight. Below them, cars were hoking, people were shouting and talking and laughing, and a thousand citizens were just going about their night. Issei found it strangely beautiful.
"I guess I owe you a thanks. And an apology."
"A thanks?" Issei hadn't been expecting either, but an apology was far more warranted than a thank-you.
"You could've killed me. Probably should have. But...you didn't. And for that, I owe you one. And the apology, I'm sure you can figure out."
Despite himself, Issei laughed at the dry humor. Yeah, he could figure that one out.
"Well, uh...apology accepted. And don't worry about thanking me. Just...try to find your dream."
Vali sighed. He didn't really expect Issei to have been this forgiving, and he was beyond out of his element when it came to expressing his emotions or speaking what he was thinking- but somehow it was working.
"I will. You know Koneko?"
"Rias' rook? What about her?"
"Her sister is named Kuroka. She's a friend of mine."
"Alright…"
"She always wanted to be more than friends, but I never gave her the time of day. Was always too obsessed. I think...I think now I will."
"That's good." Issei genuinely thought so, too. For someone like Vali, it would be good to try and slow things down and take it easy with someone close.
"Yeah. I know you didn't have to come talk to me, so...thanks for the chat. I'll get out of your way now. Have a good one."
"Uh, yeah. You too. Thanks for coming." Issei didn't really know what to say. This was so far out of what he understood of Vali's character that he wasn't even really sure it was him.
But then, Vali stood up, and Issei saw. Suddenly, he understood.
It was no wonder the White Dragon could no longer fight.
His right hand was still gone. His right leg was still useless.
The devil summoned a crutch, waved at Issei, and limped over to the elevator. Issei was absolutely dumbstruck. Vali was a cripple. His hand hadn't healed. His leg was still obliterated. He would likely be unable to truly fight for the rest of his life.
And it was all Issei's fault.
But Vali had thanked him for it.
"You see what I mean, darling?"
As he reeled, Lisa Lisa sat down beside him, shocking him out of his thoughts.
"I...what?"
He didn't even know where to start.
"Really, you killed the battle maniac who attacked you, stone cold graveyard dead. What you spared was Vali Lucifer, a damaged boy not too much unlike yourself. He can't say it very well, but he owes you more than just his life. Normally I wouldn't condone violence, but don't you dare go thinking you did anything wrong. You've done more for him that you'll ever know."
"Will he really be okay like that?"
"Oh, yes. It's just a hand, after all. There exist more ways than one to replace it, in this world. I'm sure he'll be just fine. It's his mind that's better off, not his hand or leg."
"Oh."
"Oh indeed."
Smiling, Lisa Lisa stood up and left him alone with his thoughts.
Issei just sighed again, looking out over the city once more.
Some time later
"Well, those of you who came for the party, thanks for coming! The rest of you, thanks for tolerating us all!" Elsa was giving a speech, since it was now time to start closing the party. The crowd laughed in response.
"How about a toast?!" Azazel suggested to everyone, standing on his chair.
Issei blanched, not eager to be in the center of attention yet again. He and Raynare were in their original seats, with everyone else also in the places they'd been at the beginning of the party hours ago.
Every single person yelled in agreement.
"To these dumb kids, and to getting engaged way too early!" Azazel hoisted his glass, but didn't drink yet.
"Hear hear!"
"To the Red Dragon!"
Once again, a hoist but no drink. The supernatural members of the party understood, the rest just pretended to and went along with it. They assumed it had something to do with his black/red suit.
"Hear hear!"
"To true love, and to good music!"
"Hear hear!"
On that last note, everyone drank.
Issei and Raynare laughed.
I'm not gonna lie- Vali's characterization was completely new to me. I've never read the light novels and don't plan on it, so all I've seen of him so far is being a one-note battle nut. I think I accurately portrayed what he'd be like if his will/means to fight were suddenly ripped away, but I'm sure I'll catch shit from all of you Vali lovers anyway, so oh well.
Also, I hope you all enjoyed the random plug of "Tangled up in You" by Staind. Truth be told, I've been waiting to put it in the story for a really, really long time now. This was the perfect moment, I think. Hope no one hated that.
Once again, I'd like to thank all of you for your beyond kind words on the last chapter. You all helped me more than you could ever know.
Anyway, I'll stop it here for now. Don't forget to review, and I'll see you next mission.