"Hello and welcome to Royal Dinner, may I take your order please." The reaction that Raynare got for actually putting in effort was a round of laughter from the seated group of Devils. All of Rias' peerage was seated at a large round booth in the newly reconstructed dinner that just last week and been blow to pieces by Raynare's mother. Now it had been built back up and was running as normal thanks to Rias' family and a good sprinkling of magic. "Ey! Don't laugh at me, I'm really trying here!" Raynare snapped as all but Atreus laughed at her.
"I'm sorry Raynare but seeing you like this is just so out of character for you. Like a pig in a fancy dress." Akeno was the one to stop laughing long enough to take a shot at the Fallen Angel. The two then began trading a scathing glaring match before Atreus decided to intervene. Being seated between Akeno and Asia, somehow that happened, he made sure to lift a menu in front of Akeno face to cut the glares before they turned into something worse.
"You guys, play nice. My mom is charging Raynare rent and it was either this or housekeeping." Atreus said trying to defend Raynare which just put a little extra sugar in the girl's sour mood. The only thing she had been happy about this new job was that she was working at the place of her and Atreus' first date and the uniforms were super cute. Plus, she hoped that maybe she and Atreus could slip out for a quicky. "I'm sorry about that by the way, but I can't really change my mom's mind when she really is set on something."
"It's fine, I don't mind the job really… could do without all the old men coming in to stare at my fine ass all day but whatever." Raynare shrugged before she sent a cold glare to a few such men seated on the other side of the diner, she knew that she wouldn't be getting a good tip acting like this but her ass was only for Atreus to enjoy.
"As long as you abide by our agreement you can do as you please." Rias added as she took her provided cup of coffee. "But just remember whose territory you live in now."
"Yeah-yeah big red I got it." Raynare waved off and Rias felt the need to retaliate but one pleading look from Atreus stopped her. He had explained that Raynare was trying her best to curb her worst tendencies but they were pretty well ingrained into her personality so it was a work in progress. The rest of her peerage ordered their food without much trouble… Akeno and Koneko both tried to get their jabs in but the entire affair was gotten through regardless. Raynare then left with on last wink and blown kiss to Atreus before taking their orders to the kitchen.
"So Atreus, how exactly has it been having a Fallen Angel live with you." Atreus then stared off into space after Kiba's question. In his mind he was thinking back on the last week of his life. The Nightcore version of the song Dirty Mind playing as he recalled all the many times that Raynare sudden appeared out of no where to drag him off so they could have sex. Roughly about fifteen time a day this happened and while Atreus had godly stamina and the everlasting will to have all the sex he could get, there were a growing healthy respect for just how much sex Raynare could get out of him. "Atreus… Atreus?"
"Huh? Oh… sorry… was having a montage moment." Atreus blinked back into reality as Akeno giggled at his reaction having a pretty good idea at what just played through his mind. "It's been something alright, not much has changed that much as I have school and after school duties to do so we really only see each other in the morning and evening." Or at least that's how it was supposed to be, but Raynare had a talent for suddenly showing up at the perfect moment for fast sex and then vanishing before he understood what ever happened. But he didn't feel that was appropriate to discuss here. "There was that incident when Katsue and Murayama came by to walk to school together."
"Did that happen to be the day you didn't show up until lunch period?" Rias asked passively already guessing the answer, an answer that Atreus gave by just humming a little, but everyone got the picture. Well… mostly everyone one. Asia was sitting next to Atreus completely clueless to the sexual adventures of the Pawn. She was about to question it when the entire table paused when they heard Raynare and the cook begin a small shouting match. They all leaned out of the booth to see what was happening but it looked to already be over. "She does have her charm I'm sure."
"She's trying, she really is." Atreus defended and the fact he did was what kept Rias on Raynare's side. She didn't think that her pawn would stick by someone this well if they were just in it for the sex. He already had two human girls that were, admittedly a bit disturbingly, committed to him. So he wasn't lacking in sexual partners.
"Enough with our rude unexpected guest, and onto our more pleasant one." Rias said as she smiled to Asia who just shrunk a little into Atreus' side. Rias found the girl's shyness and attachment to her Pawn absolutely adorable. Asia was a bundle of innocence and a delight to be around, Rias was very pleased that she could provide the girl with a family after living so long with a place to call home. "How has living in Japan been so far, settling in well enough?" Rias asked and Asia nodded.
"Yes, being able to speak Japanese now really helps." A true advantage of Devils was the power of the Silver Tongue, the power to speak and understand any mortal language. "But living at the ORC is a little awkward." Asia admitted and this got to what Rias really wanted.
"Hmm, unfortunately the apartments that we set aside for my servants were all taken up in this recent semester. More international students were accepted than we originally anticipated." Rias bullshitted and Atreus was able to see right through it. Even without his normal linguistic powers he had with mortals he was still very skilled at reading people and inch by inch he was starting to get a handle on Rias. Plus there was logic, as the person that controlled both the dorms and the acceptance of new students, or at least had a great deal of sway over them, Rias could easily maintain a few open apartments for unexpected servants. The former god was smelling a plot but trusted Rias to a extent to have at least everyone best interest in mind. Not like Asia's living situation could really affect him too much anyway. "I know, Atreus… your family has plenty of room." Both Atreus and Asia both did a spit take at Rias' words.
"Is this really all you have?" Atreus asked as he helped carry some boxes up the curb to his house. Rias and Asia were bereft of boxes but watched over the Pawn to make sure he didn't drop anything, very important.
"Yes, I didn't have much and I'm not sure anything I didn't already bring with me will be in good condition if we ever get it back at all." Asia admitted and the current facts around her earthly possessions was helping distract her from the fact she was going to be living with the boy she liked. Atreus was the first person she ever felt was genuine with her and he saved her life, she knew even if she was now a devil, god had sent Atreus on her path as a reward for all the pain she lived through. He was kind and strong, she never felt safer than when she was with him.
"Don't worry Asia, we can go shopping later and find you new clothes for your new wardrobe." Rias assured the former nun and internally was looking forward for the girl time. Now she finally had someone that looked to be more on her side on the degree of what was acceptable in public as opposed to Akeno who was a quite a bit farther.
The Devils all approached the large house that would soon be getting a new resident but all stopped as they reached the front lawn. There sitting in a lawn chair was a man that Rias had never seen before and who would honestly be the most unremarkable man she had ever seen. Neither too good looking or handsome, he was the perfect person to be in a stock photo. She highly doubted that this man was Atreus' mysterious father as Demi-gods tended to be far more memorable. So that begged the question who this man was and how'd he get past the wards that protected this building.
"Why'd we st… oh fuck." Atreus said as he looked out from the stack of boxes that blocked his forward view. "Why you back Nex, I still have a week before you and father get back." Atreus said as he quickly dropped Asia's things in Rias' arms, he knew for a fact she was strong enough to carry them, and ran up to the annoying man.
"We got done early, turns out the ritual that was on our list was being conducted was just a bunch of nerds that got their hands on a real edition of one of Solomon's books." Nex yawned as he stretched out in his portable lawn chair. A chair that was made of spiritually enhanced material to make it super comfy and unbreakable. Kratos kept breaking every other one that Nex bought so this was the solution. Still meant that the God of War would sometimes throw the thing at Nex. "Your pops is already inside, if things were normal I'd expect him and the wife to be going at it like rabbits but~" He sung out as he moved his head to the side to get a good view of the two devils, one of whom passed the boxes she had been carrying off to her Familiar. "~things ain't normal~"
"Atreus, who is this man?" Rias asked, a little irritated that her favorite servant had completely ignored her and brushed her existence off in favor of this unremarkable man.
"Not important, you'll forget he exists in five minutes anyway." Atreus answer back quickly as he wanted to get back to Nex to figure out just how long he would be demoted back down to Boi for. Oh, and to make sure Nex doesn't mess with Rias and the others too much. "Yes, I'm a Devil now. I haven't broken the agreement we have and I'm not going to. So back off Nex."
"Calm the tits down kid, I don't care if your fucking the Devil King's sister-"
"Excuse me?" Rias questioned as she was disliking this man more and more. First off speaking about her like she wasn't even here in the first place was rude, the content of which was even more rude. Then it looked like this Nex was the man that was keeping a control over her servant and his past.
"- or if you've become a Devil or anything like that. So long as you don't tell them where you really came from or the real fate of Big-G I could care less." Nex waved off without a care in the world before finally looking to Rias, giving her a lazy look over before smiling. "Wouldn't mind getting some of your sloppy seconds though."
It was that comment that finally tipped Rias over and her Power of Destruction flared up. She was fully prepared to utterly annihilate this disgusting man but then Atreus held out a hand to stop her. She was about to loudly question why he would let this man say such things but then noticed the restrained flickers of greenish flames coming off his back and arms.
"Hurry up and erase that from their memories. And don't ever think of trying Nex, your mental powers aren't as all powerful as you think. If you try… I will know." Atreus warned, his voice a hissing crack in a sheet of ice covering a boiling ocean of rage. The Nephilim narrowed his eyes and decided that he had crossed a line in his teasing. He wouldn't actually try and sleep with the Devil King's sister, there were much easier women to get with and ones with less impact on the Supernatural World. So, without even a single movement on his part, Rias, her Familiar, and Asia all blinked and their entire memory of the incident was gone.
"Wha… ow… I have a sudden headache." Rias held a hand to her head as she felt an unexpected throbbing in her head. She also questioned why her muscles felt the same slightly used feeling they had when she used her powers. Atreus however quickly took her attention away as he offered to get her some aspirin. She and Asia both walked past Nex without ever seeing him and into Atreus' home, he however gave one last glare to the sitting man this proved that all of that was done on purpose. He could have just made it so they never saw him to begin with but purposefully let them so he could antagonize them all. Atreus then took the boxes from a confused Familiar who vanished in a puff of smoke. "Ah, Atreus your home is just as lovely as I remember." Rias spoke as Atreus closed the door behind him.
"Why thank you, I do try my best." Rias and Asia both turned to see Freya standing in the doorway to the dinning room with her baby in her arms. Rias had never seen the woman before but she couldn't help but compare her own mother to her. They both were incredibly beautiful and had a subtle aura of power though Atreus step-mother felt more subdued than the current matriarch of the House of Gremory. "I see you've already dealt with the annoyance out in the front Atreus?" Rias and Asia both looked to the Pawn confused as to what she was talking about.
"Yeah, where's dad." Atreus said quickly not wanting to talk about Nex anymore than he needed to. Freya just nodded to the stairway that led down to the basement and Atreus sighed knowing that it would be best to just get this out of the way sooner rather than later. "I guess I'll-"
"Now-now Atreus, first help this young lady into her new room." Freya said as she stopped Atreus from walking off to his father and judgement. The Devils however looked to the woman a little surprised, they hadn't even asked if Asia could stay with Atreus' family. Rias knew that any attempt of mental manipulation would be pointless and even more than little rude. "Don't look so stocked, what else would be here for with all those boxes. And of course she can stay, we have more than enough room and I'd be happy to help one of Atreus' friends in their time of need." Freya said before pointed up the stairs. "Anyone of the empty rooms can be yours, Raynare unfortunately already has taken to the one across from Atreus' own. Lady Gremory, if I could have a moment with you in the kitchen." Freya said as she entered the dinning room and walked off to the kitchen leaving the Devils standing shock at how effortlessly in control the woman had taken the conversation.
"Yup… that's my step-mom. Come on Asia, let's get you settled so I can face my doom." Atreus mumbled as he started his way up the nearby stairs with Asia following behind him. This left Rias alone and looking toward where the stepmother of her Pawn had walked off to. She had so many questions and wanted to make the best first impression possible but she somehow felt like she lost out on the latter. So with tentative steps she followed the mystery woman into the kitchen, Rias knew that Raynare had somehow gotten on this woman good side so she was confident that she could do so as well. Though the terror that Atreus and Mimir had when they first spoke of her trickled back into Rias' mind.
"Don't worry dear, I'm not angry or hold any ill will to you." The woman said as Rias entered the room and the redhead gave a mental sigh of relief. "My son is alive and happy, that's a mother could want for her child. I am not at liberty to tell you my real name so Mrs. Deimos will have to do." She said as she held her child in her arms and leaned back on one of the counters. Rias felt it strange that she couldn't even tell say her name, did that mean that she was someone that anyone could recognize by name alone? If that was so that could be very big, Just what was happening in her territory.
"Very well, while you hold no ill will toward me I still feel I must apologize for my intrusion on your life." Rias said knowing that she had just invited Asia into this woman's home without prior permission or even introduction. This was along with the current servant status that her step-son now had to her. And Rias knew that Atreus saw his lost divinity as a blessing but that might not be a shared view among the rest of his family. "Atreus had quickly become a very valued servant and a new addition to my own family, all I want is for all my servants to be happy and prosper."
"That's nice to hear and had you not have the last name you do I wouldn't believe you. But I wanted to speak to you about my son's future." Rias blinked at this, yes it was natural for a mother to worry about a child's future but Atreus was intelligent and very capable. There shouldn't be much cause for worry, especially given his heritage Rias had no doubt he would become a very strong Devil. Likely Ultimate given enough time. "I know Atreus' potential, I have little doubt that he will become a very powerful Devil with status, fame, glory and so much more. But what I'm concerned with is the company that he will keep."
"Oh… I see." Rias said with her mood shifting in confusing ways. On one hand she also shared this worry, the women that would of course circle Atreus because he was powerful. It was inevitable with Devils, both with men and women they would be drawn to those stronger than then and do whatever it took to be with them. Devils were simply hardwired to desire power and act on any desire they had, combined that with a very sexual open and sinful society and you had a population very willing to throw themselves at the members of Devil society that were at the top.
"Atreus has the blood of Zeus in his veins and the Jötunn weren't exactly known for being able to keep it in their pants." Rias had never heard that before, maybe it was something that only the Norse knew among their own pantheon. The former thing however… that Rias knew. While the God of Lightning had clamed down… somewhat… in this last millennia, he was still regarded as one of the biggest womanizers in all of the Supernatural World. "He has already begun showing signs of lust being his sin of choice, which is perfectly fine with me so long as those he spends his time with are of acceptable quality."
"Acceptable quality?" Rias did not expect this to turn into this type of conversation. The idea that Atreus would have multiple women never even flashed across Rias' mind as a issue. That was a given in Devil society. You got married, and then you could have a harem of other partners, that was very common.
"Yes, quality over quantity. I'd rather have Atreus surrounded by women that love and adore him as he loves and adores them. Instead of many vapid and gray harlots that have so little will of their own they must attach themselves to another to even have a semblance of impact on reality." The way that this woman spoke with such veiled venom and hidden contempt was frightening. Honestly… Rias knew exactly where she felt like this before. During her noble lady lessons with Grayfia, only this wasn't trivial lessons on etiquette but a mother protecting her child from what she saw as true threats. "The two girls from school were acceptable when Atreus had not been taken into the Supernatural World but now, they are less than ideal. However they are too well integrated into his heart for them to be removed cleanly. Improvements will likely be made once they become Devils themselves. But even if they do it would be a simple matter to-"
"You're doing it again!" Mimir called out from one of the other rooms and Rias watched as Ms. Deimos blushed and coughed a bit. The Gremory Heiress just only now noticed a dissipating oppression in the air. She also had now only just be able to take a steady breath, whatever this woman was she was able to control a room with just a rambling plan of her own step-son's future.
"Sorry about that… I sometimes get a bit protective of Atreus and can get carried away with what is best for him." She said and Rias could hear genuine shame and guilt in her voice. There was pain there, the Devil could tell that this was a real problem for this woman and one that might have costed her something in the past. "The main point still stands, I want Atreus to grow up into a man that won't be as the legends of his grandfather depict. I am not concerned with his success on the battlefield, or in any career he may take. His powers, heritage, and work ethic will all handle that. What does concern me as how easy it seems for women to come into his life and hold sway over him."
"I assume that you are including me into that." Rias said frowningly slightly. She didn't like the implications of that statement. She wasn't controlling Atreus in any way, she refused to use her powers as his King and she trusted his judgement to not need to micromanage him.
"Partially." The woman said with a shrug. "My biggest example is how easily Raynare was able to get Atreus alone and vulnerable. She herself couldn't have had a chance against him but it was a proof of concept to my fears, and it proved right that Atreus' instincts when it comes to women can be clouded." Rias did have to admit that it sounded right. Everyone had their own personal demons they had to wrestle with and it looked like if Atreus had in front of a pretty face that had no reason to distrust he would go along with them. That's how it looked but Rias was still unconvinced. Right now this theory only had his bloodline of Zeus, one date with Raynare, and the fact Atreus really liked sex as its supporting arguments. But before Rias could voice these thoughts a boom crash sounded from below them. "Seems the boys are having fun."
"Is this normal?" Rias asked concerned for Atreus but the soft chuckle coming from the Pawn step-mother eased her fears.
"Very, just ignore them." She said as another shock to the building shook a few plates. But then she returned back to the serious mood she had been in before their interruption. "My main concern is that while my son is a kind and thoughtful one, I do not see such a personality fairing well in Hell." Rias did have to concede to that as well. Devils were patriarchal by instinct, Lucifer himself set the tone when he fell and created the Devil race. It was in their blood and while the culture was moving away from that with the inflex of Reincarnated Devils, old habits die hard.
"He's not weak by any means, but you're right… in a sense. Atreus has the power and the growth potential to be a powerful Devil. But he will need to act like one to gain Hell's respect." Rias hated how twisted her people were at times, it was hard to say that every Devil was Evil but they all certainly slanted harder toward it than Good. "But youth grants him and the rest of us some invisibility and leniency. Atreus is smart and someone that can adapt."
"But adapting too well is the heart of what I'm worried about. Me and my husband's greatest fear is that Atreus will find his curse, an occurrence we have observed in our people." Rias understood what the woman said. Atreus had spoken briefly on this subject once when they discussed his divinity and his feeling son it. Talking about a curse. "We all bare one, my husband's wrath and need for vengeance however buried it may be is still heavy on his shoulders. And I… just want what's best for my children… even if I end up hurting them." Rias could see the pain on her face as she said this.
"And Atreus' curse?"
"We don't know, ego… lust… those are the two primary suspects. Both could be made worse by Devil culture. Which is where you come in." This woman whose power Rias could not begin to understand, looked at her with the most intense and pleading look in her eyes that she had ever seen in a person. A desperate plea to something that she herself wants to do but knows she can't. "I ask you as a mother, please watch out for my son. I have no fear for anything but a threat that comes from within himself."
"I will, Atreus is part of my family now and I won't ever let a single one of my family go through any trouble alone." That's all she could promise, she didn't think that she could do much to stop a curse on divinity itself but she would try. She would try her hardest to help Atreus through anything.
"Thank you, now… want to help me make Svedra's lunch." Rias beamed as the focus of the conversation changed to the much lighter subject of the toddler in the room.
There was a loud crack as Atreus block another strike from his father, but the boy held his ground and with a quickness that the larger man did not possess countered with a nimble jab to his side. That was how things went for them, Kratos would give a heavy blow, Atreus would struggle to block it but then follow up with a lightning fast response. The force of their traded blows echoed through their training hall and reverberated to the home above.
"You have improved." Kratos said simply as Atreus ducked under a grapple and slid between his father's stance. The older god felt a kick to his back but it did not move him, he was immovable and such a light attack would not change that.
"Happens when you need to fight for your life." Atreus smirked as he avoided another backhand from his father. "It's been a long time since I've had to fight for real but it really felt good… once it was over." The various fights he had been having in the past month had helped him a lot. While training and practice were good on their own, real improvement needed to be made in the true test of battle. His father grunted a agreement and the two continued their spar until finally Atreus landed a upper cut that manage to draw a bit of blood form his father's lip. "I win."
"Don't get cocky boy." Kratos said this but there was a ghost of a smile on his face as he wiped away the blood. He was proud of his son for the fighter he was and the man he was becoming. The Spartan was also happy that he was growing to favor his mother more in terms of personality, Kratos could recognize that his own left much to be desired when it came to just being happy. And the two things he wanted for his son was to be strong and happy… though in that order. But then his mood shifted back into his usual seriousness as he looked at his son.
"So… you're not mad at me?" Atreus asked as he had been expecting a lot more. A normal spar between them was a given. But so far the only thing that seemed to show any sign of his father's mood here was the continued demotion of Atreus to boy. But he was already at that point anyway so that didn't matter.
"You got sloppy but from what I have been told and seen you improved, that's all that matters." Kratos said before taking a long look at his son and then spoke once again. "Nevertheless, you may no longer be a God boy, but you will always live with the curse."
"I know… but it helps right?" Atreus weakly chuckled as he knew exactly what his father was talking about. Even if he was now a Devil it didn't change the fact that he still had divine blood in his veins. He still was a god in the sense of a eventual level of power even if he would never reach his full potential had he never become a Devil. The only difference now was that there was a cap and dulling to his divinity. He was not fully a god and yet still one. The Devil's Evil pieces could never truly take it away from him. "But now I have people that can look out for me, that's something you never had."
"That is true, not until I met your mother had I ever had a someone I could call a friend and ally. Everyone else was either fleeting or a convenient alliance." Kratos growled at the memory of the many people in his past that claimed to be on his side only to turn on him, namely the Olympians and the Titans. But that was then and another world, this one was different. He had seen much of it and could say that Gods here had it too easy… or maybe it was better to say there was something very wrong with his old world. Here, most Gods did in fact look over their lands far more benevolently. Sure there were some that were evil or cruel but they were usually not in charge or at the very least made a non-issue a long time ago. "And your allies… Freya and the Head have told me about them."
"You don't sound impressed." Atreus could hear the attempt to hide his disapproval in his father's voice.
"My… personal preference to allies is not yours. I was made aware of this." Atreus had to hide his chuckle at the sight of his father getting a little flustered. Clearly his step-mother had sat Kratos down and lectured to him like a child about how not everything can be done the same way and that his son was most certainly not him. "So long as you remain strong I will say no more."
"Thank you… I didn't-"
"However." There it was, Atreus had expected a follow up to his father just giving into the idea of Rias and her peerage. "I want you to come with me on my next job with Nex." Atreus' eyes widened at the idea, it was something he had been wanting for a long time. A opportunity to go on another adventure with his father even if it wasn't nearly as personal or important as their first. But the timing couldn't have been worse, it was the middle of the semester and he was sure that Rias' wouldn't be too happy that he would be gone for any extended period of time.
"What would it be?" Atreus asked hoping to find some wiggle room here for when he brought it up with Rias.
"Two weeks, Nex requires us to stop in Kyoto for a meeting with one of his kind and then will travel to South America. An exploring group of mortals stumbled upon a Aztec God's corpse and have turned into a cult devoted to bringing it back from the dead." Kratos explained as this was one of the many jobs that Nex had been putting off for some time. It sounded time sensitive but if it wasn't for the fact this group of humans had no idea what they were doing than it would be. The entire job would be spent mostly getting to the site, than killing the cultists and then sealing the corpse up so no one would ever find it again.
"Two weeks…" Atreus rolled this around a bit as he knew that Nex's jobs were very temperamental time wise. It could be two weeks or a month or maybe a few days.
"This is not a discussion boy." Atreus hung his head as his father looked down at him with a look on his face that marked this as something that was going to happen. And not something that could be changed no matter how much weaseling Atreus tried to do. So, the two began their way back up to the ground floor of the house, taking a several flights of stairs to do so. As they did so Atreus hung his head, mumbling about how unfair his father was being at dropping this unexpected vacation on him without warning. The men soon enough walked back into the main floor of their home and found his step-mother and Rias in the kitchen fussing over Svedra. "I have finished sparring with the boy. he has remained... acceptable even after what has happened." Kratos said as the two entered the kitchen.
"Well that's what is important I guess." Freya said with a mildly displeased droll meanwhile Rias was just staring at the mountain of a man that was Atreus' father.
"I mean it could have been a lot worse..." Atreus mumbled knowing just how horrible his father returning could have been.
"Boy." Kratos threatened and said boy felt a ocean of embarrassment come down on him. "I will-"
"You will go upstairs right now and get dressed for our date night." Atreus chuckled as his father got lectured by Freya, being told to get ready to go out and make her feel like the only woman in the world. The teenager knew that his father wasn't the best at these sorts of things but both Atreus and Freya didn't expect him to do great at it, just him committing to them was his way of showing how much he cared. Atreus lightly bit his lip to avoid bursting into laughter as his step-mother escorted his father toward their bedroom in order to begin the cleaning up process.
"That… was your father?" The former god turned to see Rias staring at him while turning her head constantly to the retreating form of his parents. Wide eyed and trying to come to terms with the fact the giant of a man they had just seen was Atreus' father.
"Yup." Atreus said simply and was finding her reactions pretty funny. But he wanted to make sure to get his news out pretty quickly. "And uh… he wants me to go on a trip with him." Atreus said nervously, he wasn't too sure how to ask this. He didn't know how Rias wanted her servants, if she wanted them with her at all times or if they could leave for times without question.
"What?" Rias blinked having been taken out of the shock of seeing a literal mountain of pure muscle and power. Seriously, she had little doubt that he was a Greek God with how built he was. And it certainly made Rias wonder just how close would Atreus grow to resemble his father. But now she wasn't thinking about that. Now she was thinking about her new favorite servant leaving her for any period of time.
"Yeah, just for two weeks… maybe a little more if things don't go to plan." Atreus admitted as he knew that the time frame given wasn't nearly as solid as she'd like it to be.
"Are you expecting this to be a dangerous trip?" Rias nearly shouted as she now picture Atreus leaving to go on some death wish mission that would get him hurt or worse. No, she would never allow one of her precious servants to be hurt or killed on some reckless job.
"Not really, I'll have my father with me… and you've seen him." Rias… couldn't deny that logic. Atreus thought about telling her he would also be with Nex who could make it so no one could ever even know he exists. But then he decided that it would be best to just to let her continue to not know Nex exists.
But even still Atreus didn't think much on Nex being of much use on any job. At first that might sound like the perfect way to kill evil monsters, just walk up to them as they can't even sense you exist in any fashion… except for the fact Nex is a normal human in ever other way and can't kill a monster in one strike. And after that first strike, the monster may not know what is attacking but it knows its being attacked and will likely rampage in response. So all this power was good for was sneaking around outside of fights or against non-monster targets.
"I don't know." Rias mumbled not feeling easy with this. She trusted Atreus to handle himself in a fight, and he would have a God on his side in the form of his father. A God she didn't recognize, he didn't have any markings of any Greek God she had knowledge of. A knowledge she had broadened in the time of taking in Atreus. There had been a fair number of new Greek Gods as the times changed but very few of them had their own personal domains or were of any really note. That man… was far beyond a minor god. So while she felt safer having seen and felt the power that Atreus would be with on this trip… her worry didn't lessen anymore. And there was also a nagging fear in the back of her mind, that any day now something very specific could come around and she would need him.
"It's just a trip to South America, kill a few cultists trying to bring back an Aztec god and then I'll be back before you know it." Atreus said but he could see that this didn't help Rias' thoughts on the matter. "I promise that I-"
"You're leaving!" Atreus felt a sudden thump to his back and the sense of two arms wrap around his body. "Don't go! I just got here!" Asia cried as she clung to Atreus hoping that she could prevent him from ever leaving. He was her first real friend and the reason why she now had a real home.
"See Atreus, you have people here that rely on you." Rias said and Atreus looked back to her with a small disapproving look. That was a cowardly argument, it shifted the burden on reason onto someone else that someone being a insecure and emotionally dependent Asia. It also freed Rias of any really responsibility of trying to keep him around for her sake which he wasn't believing for a second.
"I don't have all that much choice, my father wants to do this and I can't exactly say no." Atreus said as he gave up on trying to get Asia to let go of him. Deciding that if he can convince Rias than she could sooth Asia into being at least somewhat okay with this, Atreus focused back on his King. "Listen, my father is only around for a week at a time and sometimes he's gone for months. This won't be one of those times I promise and I'll owe you big time if you let me do this. Anything you want I'll do it." Atreus said hoping that the emotional appeal and the offer would be enough. He would be normally better at bartering but without his normal sixth sense guiding him through the conversation he was going in blind. A feeling he had grown used to but not comfortable with.
"Anything I want?" Rias said aloud, a frown crossed her face as a very specific use for this flashed in her mind. It disgusted herself that she would even consider forcing Atreus to do something like that just because it would make things easier… even if she was sure both of them would enjoy it. But it would be for all the wrong reasons and it was selfish. But still, it was a very good offer and while she was currently giving her family the cold shoulder that didn't mean she didn't understand and empathize with Atreus desire to have some time with a less than around parent. "I want you to answer hourly text messages and daily calls. If I get even the slightest feeling that you're in over your head than I'm coming to get you." Rias said and the copper-haired boy breathed a sigh of relief.
"Rias! You can't!" Asia cried as she hugged Atreus even tighter, fighting her feelings of embarrassment at being so close to the boy she liked but she would do anything to keep him from leaving.
"Asia, you will still have me and the rest of the peerage. Atreus will be back before you know it and this will give you some time to get familiar with the town." Rias said leaning down a bit, shifting into her mother hen mode. Atreus watched as Rias did the impossible and with a few more soothing promises was able to clam the former nun down. She then guided Asia over to Atreus' little sister who she instantly fell in love with. Atreus sighed again and then felt someone put a hand on his shoulder. He looked to his side and found Mimir smirking at him.
"They both will make fine wives someday lad… Mgmm…" Mimir grunted as Atreus back kicked his shine and sent the Satyr to the floor holding his shattered bone.
"So that's what's going to be happening, I'll be taking an emergency vacation to Greece for my grandfather's funeral. Due to the way things are looking with all the lawyers and family infighting… I'll be gone for at least two weeks." Atreus explained to his Archery Team who all looked very broken up at the thought of their captain leaving them so soon. Their tournament training wasn't starting until the second half of the school year, right now was just local brackets that they won easy enough. So it wasn't like they really needed him but he was beloved by everyone on the team as a capable and valued leader.
"Until he returns I will be taking over as administrative captain while your Vice-Captain will handle day-to-day training and leadership." Tsubasa smirked as said vice-captain glared at her for butting in. Which was fine, Tsubasa found the little slut to be a glory hound and only really tried in the hopes of getting Atreus' attention. She was a decent archer but not anywhere nearly as good as Atreus… though she was only human.
"Listen to the Athletic Committee Chair and your Vice-Captain and I'll be back sooner than you think." Atreus said with a warm smile that distracted much of the team from the small battle of wills taking place in front of them. But it was broken up as the meeting was concluded and the rest of the team went to do their exercises. "So… that's the reason why I won't be joining the Student Council, and why that smug idiot Saji was named Student Council Secretary."
"Ugh… don't bring up that little pissant." Tsubasa groaned as she stretched out a bit, hoping that Atreus would pass a glance and check her out a little. She didn't have the insane curves of Rias or Akeno but she was still a woman and one that hoped that Atreus wasn't as vain as most of the other boys in the school. She didn't take him as someone that would be opposed to girls with a bit of muscle on them. "But yes, Gremory territory but a Sitri actually runs it. So you work for the figurehead but you could have been part of the shadowy power behind the crown." Tsubasa said and faux scary sinister voice that got a chuckle out of Atreus.
"Wasn't really my choice… sorta a life or death situation." Atreus said causally as he looked over his team starting their rounds of practice. Tsubasa stopped what she was doing as she didn't know he had joined Rias like that. "I had assumed that your household knew the circumstances that I joined the Gremory clan?"
"No, despite Rias and Sona being good friends, they tend to stay out of each other's business. All any of us knew was that you became a Devil and wasn't one of our group. Assumptions were made." Tsubasa said much more soberly than more. She didn't think that Atreus had become a Devil because he was going to die otherwise and now felt bad if she had drugged up bad memories or any regret over losing whatever he was before. Most humans love to shed their mortality and previous humanity in favor of devilhood, but most other species tend to have regrets if the choice wasn't a choice at all. "I'm-"
"Don't be, it was for the better in the end. I'm happy, I finally have a place in the world I can be content with." Atreus said honestly and the way he looked to Tsubasa, so serene and at peace with is lot in life made her a little jealous. She didn't have a single regret in becoming a Devil but she did feel like there was something missing. She was jealous that Atreus had found whatever he was looking for. She didn't hold it against him as it wasn't what she wanted, she didn't know what she wanted.
"I have to write a report for Sona, but I better see you again before you leave." Tsubasa said with a small wink as she returned to her old self. Atreus just smiled, thinking nothing of the wink or getting a lick of sense toward the girl's real feelings. His senses numb to supernatural beings so he could never even begin to understand that Tsubasa's flirty nature was solely directed at him.
Atreus stayed and directed his team, helping them improve further and further. He did have to marvel at humans at times, while they were the weakest beings at the start they always had room to improve. Where supernatural beings were concerned, many of them had ceilings they could reach or were limited in power in other ways either mentally or psychically. But humans always in Atreus' opinion could adapt and overcome hardship and grow from it. They started weak but could become some of the strongest beings possible. These were often thoughts and musings that came to his mind as he worked with his team but soon these were put on hold as he, and every other male, felt a disturbance in the Force.
"Atreus~!" Everyone turned to the sound of someone shouting the team captain's name. And instantly Atreus felt his beloved position of team captain sink to hated jackass, at least among the guys on the team, as everyone saw Akeno wave at him with a box lunch in one hand. Every guy on the archery field snapped their head to Atreus and held a murderous glare toward him. As an empath he could actually feel the hate coming at him and it made him slightly sick.
"All of you get back to work! Don't make me put you through bootcamp again!" Atreus shouted and that got them back to fearing him. When he first took over as team captain he made everyone go through a training regime crafted by him and his father. While at the end they all loved the results, especially the guys who got abs out of it, but during it they complain constantly. And none of them would ever want to be put through that hell again. Atreus sighed and thanked the fates that his team was seventy percent females who looked more angry at Akeno than at him.
"Have I ever told you that you look really sexy all commanding like that." Akeno purred as Atreus approached her. She could tell that he blew off her comment as her being flirty as usual. But she really meant it, she felt her self get all hot at the sight of him taking control of the room and cowing all those little weak boys into submission.
"Thanks, but why are you here? You're very distracting and while we don't have any tournaments coming up I don't like my guys slacking." Atreus said as he gave one last glare back to whoever was sending him new invigorated feelings of hate. Seriously the fanclubing for Rias and Akeno was getting out of hand in Atreus' opinion. Akeno herself found the droves of boys lusting after her as nothing but a swam of gnats, annoying at best and never ending at worst.
"Well I made you something to eat, don't want to train on an empty stomach." Akeno said with he second half of her sentence having some of her nervousness breaking through. She was feeling increasingly less confident in her plan than she felt coming here. Was this how other girls felt when talking to boys they liked, she never had a problem with men before. She would lead them around on her sex appeal and teasing, they would always be in the palm of her hand but now she found herself desperately hoping that a man would like what she made.
"Really? Thank you." Atreus said genuinely surprised that Akeno would do this. Not because he thought she wouldn't care but it just felt like something a bit out of character. He took the small homemade bento box. Watching this exchange was the rest of the archery club, the guys already stewing in the jealousy at the sight of their precious Akeno making a meal for their captain. Then there were the girls that had for two years wanted nothing more than to this very thing but never felt the courage to do it, and now this big boobed hussy was coming in and stealing their captain from them. Neither side was happy and hoped that this would end now. "This looks fantastic, seriously Akeno thank you for making this."
"Oh it was nothing." Akeno blushed as Atreus continued to examine her food with a hungry look in his eye. Here was a boy that had seen what she really was and didn't think anything of it, he didn't hate her or see her as some freak. To him, she was just another girl… same as anyone else. She wanted to do something special for him as small way of saying thanks and hearing him compliment her food was making her heart skip a beat. "And I was hoping that-"
"Ms. Himejima, social calls during club activities are not permitted during afterschool hours." Akeno wanted to violently murder Tsubaki for interrupting her time with Atreus. She turned to face her fellow Queen that had for some reason decided to check in on the Archery Team. Then Akeno saw it, Tsubasa ducking away from view but she had seen her. Of course that gorilla would go and tattle to her Queen.
"Vice President Tsubaki, do you not know that Atreus is now part of the Occult Research Club? As Vice President of said club, I am ensuring that he is well feed and will be ready for our club activities later today." Akeno said this politely but everyone around that could hear felt a chill go up their spines. And then all the mortals felt a need to back far away as the two young women both began glaring hard at each other. But then the battle of wills was stopped as Atreus stepped between them.
"Listen, I can solve this easy enough." Atreus said as he looked to Akeno. "Come on, I want to eat this away from people that are actually making my stomach sick right now." Atreus said as he started off away from the archery field with Akeno soon following behind him with a smug look of victory on her face.
The two gods collapsed back into their bed, both heavily breathing after a long and extensive continuation of their reuniting ritual. They had the entire house to themselves as Atreus and Asia were both at school, Raynare at work, and Mimir and their little girl were out enjoy the nice weather. This was by design, as Freya wanted to make sure that they could be as loud and passionate as possible without fear of anyone they gave a damn about hearing them. The neighbors weren't so lucky.
"Oh fuck… I always miss this… when you leave." Freya breathed out as she pulled herself up in the crux between her husband's neck and chest. The feeling of his arms holding her was indescribable, it had only been their first night together that she had ever felt safe in bed with another man. Even during the honeymoon phase with Odin she always felt… not in danger but never safe. That quickly changed as time went on but with Kratos it never did.
"Gives me all the reason to work harder to come back." He had gotten better at this; he knew that at the very least. As much as it shamed him he could barely remember the days of being a mortal with his first wife. He still recalled Lysandra perfectly, but it was always the day he killed her. But he could not work past that memory and think of the days were it was them as husband and wife. He assumed that the cultural differences would not make for a good marriage these days. He did remember his days with Laufey but that was also not a good example to follow with his marriage to Freya. Laufey took care of him and was an enabler while he sat in the grief and depression over what he had done in life, and he appreciated her kindness to this day but again, that was not what needed to happen here.
"One day, when Atreus is grown up, a powerful Devil and has a wife or two, Svedra is a grown woman and does whatever she dreams of doing… we will leave this place and Nex will never find us. Just live together on some farm out there." Freya said this as she often did when they felt in a wishful mood. While she enjoyed her life here in Kuoh it was not perfect. Her life in isolation in Midgard had given her a appreciation for that type of living if it wasn't forced. All she needed was Kratos and maybe a few visits to civilization now and then. "That will be nice."
"It's also impossible, Nex has not indicated in the slightest that we are even close to finishing this supposed list God had given his agents." Kratos grumbled and Freya opened her eyes as this was different than normal. Usually when Kratos and her started their pillow talk about future blissful days he would play along.
"Did something happen?" She asked as she sat up, her mind starting to quickly sober from the intense lovemaking as the possibility of troubled days reared its head. Paranoia and protectiveness of her family working for her in this instance. "You saw or heard something didn't you."
"This is the first time that we will be meeting with one of Nex's kind. And something has been troubling me for the past several jobs he has brought me on. More and more do they involve the other pantheons, before it only involved unaligned monsters or outlining sects of the Three Factions." Kratos explained and as he did so his wife became more and more worried about this up coming mission he had. But more importantly she was concerned about what Kratos was possibly bringing Atreus into. But she slowly pushed aside those worries, she had seen the two of them overcome the worst that could be thrown at them and they had only gotten stronger since then.