Last of the Line
I do not own Highschool DxD or any of it's characters. I own only Vale Beleth.
Chapter 22- The Fallen King's Court Completed
Vale ducked under the knife aimed at his face before caving in the soldier's ribcage with a powerful kick to the chest. Vale turned around to face the tank behind him planted squarely in the road just outside the Russian city. He was thankful of the diamond hard armor covering his muscled frame as the tank pelted him with .50 caliber rounds before a blur of red and brown ripped of the main cannon barrel before crushing the rest underneath its staff.
Vale turned to face the sight of three Apache helicopters bearing down on him as he saw the chain guns mounted on the wings beginning to spin up. Vale wasted no time as the two halos appeared above his hands.
[Balance-Break, Fallen Angel Drive!] the halos announced as his hair turned the same color as Vali's and the 6 pairs of silver angels wings sprang from his back as multiple orbs of light materialized in the air around him before zooming towards the helicopters in the form of dozens of magic arrows, destroying the helicopters with ease.
"He's inside the city boss. He's heading for the defense contractor's headquarters downtown. You better hurry if you wanna catch him, we were lucky to get this close so quickly, he won't be that sloppy next time." Bikou said as he kicked the wreckage of the tank into a nearby warehouse wall before Vale tucked his wings in as he leaped up into a nearby parking garage before sprinting for downtown.
Half an hour later...
Vale waited in the vent for the PMC to pass beneath the AC duct's vent. As soon a he caught sight of the man, he kicked out the vent before dropping onto the PMC and sending him crashing to the floor before breaking his neck in a single smooth motion as he crushed his spine beneath the heel of his boot.
Vale heard a gasp from behind him and wasted no time in yanking out the soldier's knife from his belt and chucking it with all his considerable might at the source of the gasp, impaling the poor office worker through the throat as he saw the door to the server room at the end of the the hallway opened to reveal the man with long brown hair, wearing goggles and a face mask and dressed in a black tactical vest and black pants stepping out of the room.
"There you are! Get back here." Vale said as he hardened his skin as the man whipped out his pistol and fired four shots at Vale before they ricocheted off his skin into the wall. The soldier apparently decided not to waste his bullets as he fired three rounds into the large window next to him before he ripped the door off its hinges as he hurled it through the window with the sound of shattering glass before leaping through it onto the nearby parking garage. Vale followed him through the hole seconds later...
"Goddammit, why do they always run?" Vale asked as he followed the soldier out the window...
A few minutes later, on the street below...
Vale's head was still ringing from the blow the target, designation: SNOWMAN, had just nailed into the crown of his head. He struggled to his feet as he felt the world around him begin to wobble dangerously before he regained his balance.
"That is one hell of a left hook you've got. But, any old clod can throw a punch let's see how you CATCH!" Vale said as he ducked low and spun on one heel and scooped up a nearby manhole cover before spinning and leaping into the air before hurling it at the SNOWMAN, using his considerable Devil strength and built up momentum to hurl the cast iron frisbee at seventy-four percent the speed of sound as it whistled through the air towards the soldier who just barely managed to duck in time as the cover embedded itself into a nearby streetlight. The long-haired soldier wasted no time in drawing a combat knife from his belt and charging Vale. Vale, however was momentarily distracted by his phone, which had begun to ring.
'Cause the devil is a loser and he's my bitch
For better or for worse and you don't care which
'Cause the devil is a loser and he's my bitch
Runnin' into trouble you skitch, he's my bitch
"Vale Beleth, I'll solve any problem for a price, up to and including your soul." Vale said as he hit the button on his Bluetooth earpiece while he seized the SNOWMAN's knife in an armored hand.
"Vale, it's Rias. Where are you? You disappeared before you even heard the verdict on your match with Nero-san." Rias asked inquisitively.
"Oh, I'm just taking care of some business in the human world. Besides, I know the verdict, I lost." Vale said as he seized a hold of his opponent's wrist as the SNOWMAN pressed on the back of the knife's handle with his left sending it inching closer to Vale's throat.
"Actually no, they said it was a draw but you technically won because you had more pieces left, granting you a higher score." Rias said as Vale yanked down hard on his opponent's hand before spinning around and yanking the opponent over his shoulder, throwing him to the ground on his back as Vale stepped on his left shoulder and grabbed hold of his knife.
"Well, I still see it as a loss." Vale said as he grabbed his opponent's knife and ripped it from his hand before burying it up to the hilt in his opponent's heart in a single motion. The SNOWMAN twitched twice in his grip before frantically clawing at his arm before he slumped lifeless in his grasp.
"But hey, my day just freed up. Wanna get lunch?" He asked as he let the corpse fall to the ground.
"Well, we've got our Rating Game at 6PM..." Rias said apprehensively, obviously hesitant to interfere with her preparations for the Game.
"Aww c'mon, you know what they say about all work and no play." he said as he heaved the corpse over his shoulder and made for the rendezvous point.
"Well... I'll think about it." Rias replied.
"Alrighty then." Vale said as he hit the button on his earpiece, ending the call as he fished his last piece out of his pocket...
Rias and Vale decided to meet up later that day to discuss Rias' strategy for the Rating Game, as well as have an in-depth discussion about their relationship as they were undoubtedly bound to soon be under the media's microscope. They decided to meet in Vale's resort so they could spend an entire day together while in reality only wasting an hour of Rias' precious time before the Game.
Two hours before Rias' Rating Game...
Rias appeared in front of the main gate to the castle where Vale and his peerage trained for their Rating Game. The magic circle she appeared in was situated atop a large tower connected to the main building by a narrow bridge that connected to a three tiered castle built into the side of a plateau that sat atop a waterfall. One side of the castle was surrounded by water while the other was circled by a tropical jungle.
Each tier of the castle consisted of an outdoor balcony surrounding the wall of the castle, a few moments observation told the Gremory heir that the castle was built for pleasure and luxury rather than sturdiness and defensibility. After getting a good view of the surrounding landscape Rias made for the main gate which was guarded by the twin Shikigamis, Zenki and Goki, each of them wielding a massive axe crossed over the other, barring her way. As she neared the main gate the spirits uncrossed their axes and knelt before her.
"Hello Princess, our Master's Master bids you welcome." the Shikigamis said in unison in their deep rumbling voices, referring to Vale as they were currently controlled by Hao, their original master, leaving Vale without a familiar for the time being.
"Why thank you, might I inquire as to where Vale is currently?" Rias asked the Shikigamis when the massive double doors creaked open and another voice answered,
"If you'll follow me madam, Master Beleth has requested I escort you to his workshop, where he is currently ensconced."
Rias turned to see the source of the voice was a tall, handsome, youthful man with black hair, red eyes, and pale skin that has a grayish tint. He was dressed in an outfit that consists of black trousers, a six button double-breasted tailcoat, and a grey vest. He had the Beleth family crest on his shirt cuffs and tie. He also sported a pocket watch with a chain and chained silver lapel pin bearing the Beleth crest, a decoration she recognized as traditionally worn by a house's head butler. He bowed courteously to her as he gestured down the hall with a gloved hand.
"Of course, might I ask your name?" Rias asked as the young man as he turned and led her into the massive entrance hall, it was bare except for a checkered black and white tile floor and a red carpet that lead to a bank of elevators.
"My Master has not seen fit to grant me a name and I have none of my own." the man replied as they arrived at the elevators as one dinged open and they boarded it in silence. Several seconds later the doors slid open to reveal a long hallway with several doors on either side, there was light pouring through the windows as they set off down the corridor.
In one of the windows she saw Vali and Bikou sparring with Hao. The next door contained a room where Isley and Edith were sparring with both of Vale's [Knight]s. They passed other darkened rooms before the man stopped in front of a windowless door before opening it as they heard "Stronger" by Kanye West blaring through the room along with showers of sparks being thrown by what sounded like an arc welder.
Rias stepped into the enormous room to see numerous tools some powered, some not, hanging from the right wall with several computer monitors lining the left wall. There were two rows of four desks hat extended towards the back wall, most were empty except for 2 of them were littered with arcane blueprints she couldn't make heads or tails of. On one table there sat a strange scepter-like object set with a glowing blue stone set in what looked like a large pincer constructed of some unfamiliar metal.
Against the far back wall Vale sat hunched over on a stool as he welded two curved pieces of metal together before setting down the welding rod and picking up an angle grinder and smoothing out the ugly-looking weld.
"Master, your guest has arrived."
"Good, leave us then." Vale said as he flipped up his welding mask before standing up and setting it down on a nearby table.
"As you wish, Master." the butler replied with a bow as he strode from the room.
"So, when did you hire him?" Rias asked as her boyfriend stood up and stretched his sweat-covered frame. Rias didn't say it, but seeing him all sweaty from working was getting her all manner of hot and bothered.
"I didn't, I made a Faustian Pact with him. He just didn't know he was the prey. So, did you enjoy the show last night?" Vale asked as he picked up a towel off the table and wiped his sweaty torso, noting with some satisfaction her flushed cheeks and dilated pupils.
"It was an interesting fight. Even my parents were impressed by it. So, how's your arm?" Rias asked as she examined his arm, seeing it totally unscathed despite the fact he'd been missing a hand twelve hours ago.
"It's fine, so how bout I go shower then we get down to business?" Vale asked as he tossed the towel over his shoulder.
"Sounds good." Rias said as Vale headed for his bedroom...
Several hours later...
"Mmmm Vale, that feels so good." Rias purred as she felt his powerful hands working on a particularly stubborn knot in her lower back muscles. Vale was currently dressed in a pair of grey jeans and a black muscle tee.
"Hey c'mon focus, so how's everybody doing?" Vale said as he tried to loosen the knot in her back with his elbow, pressing firmly into the pale, soft, yet incredibly elastic, oiled skin of her lower back.
Rias was lying belly down on his bed, completely naked except for the towel covering her rear from view. After he had showered, they had decided to procrastinate a little and have a picnic on the beach outside the castle. Rias had seemed stressed the entire time so Vale had offered, well more like insisted, that he let her help relax with a back rub.
"Issei managed to attain his Balance-Breaker a few days after we un-petrified Raynare and bound her to him, she's his new familiar. He's over the moon about it." Rias replied as Vale continued his ministrations.
"How long can he sustain it?" Vale asked as he grabbed the oil bottle from the nightstand and applied a little more to Rias' back.
"He can last almost an hour now."
"That's good but he can always be better. Vali can sustain his for almost two months now and he can use Juggernaut Drive. So, what about the rest of them?"
"Xenovia is doing a lot better controlling Durandal. Kiba is loving Arondight, I don't know how you made it both a holy and demonic sword but he managed to copy it with his Sword Birth. And I don't know how you did it but Koneko is even using her Senjutsu and Akeno is using her Holy Lightning. Gasper is still struggling though." Rias explained.
"Well, I can't take credit for Koneko, I just helped clarify a few things for her. Be careful of Saji during your Game though, if you aren't careful he'll flatten you all. That's all I can tell you though." Vale finished saying as he began to massage Rias' upper back. Rias was quiet for a long while as she enjoyed the massage before Vale asked,
"Hey, we both know that soon we're gonna hit the point in the Gathering where they interview us. We both know they're gonna ask if we have our eyes on a specific Devil. Do you wanna tell them all about us?"
"Well, I'm fine with it if you are. So, I guess I'm just asking if you wanna tell them." Rias replied as she turned to look at him as he averted his eyes to avoid ogling her breasts.
"I'm completely fine with it, I just don't want to get you in trouble with your parents." Vale said as he turned to grab a towel to dry his oily hands.
"You let me worry about my parents. Now I have a question for you; can you name 25 things you like about me?" Rias asked as she placed her chin on his shoulder before pressing her sizable bosom into his back as she walked her fingers across his recently very-defined six-pack.
"Hmmm, 25 things I like about you... Hmmm, I like that you're secretly nerdy. I love how you try your hardest to be your own person but at the same time you still care about your family. I love how you actually care about your servants and train them instead of just trading them." he said, causing her to blush as he continued,
"That's not to say anything about how loving and kind you are. I find it adorable how you put on glasses to help you think when you're stressed. I also feel the need to at least mention that you're smoking hot. I also love that you're comfortable in your own skin, it speaks volumes about you. Now what else is there that I -mph!" Vale was cut off as Rias spun him around and pushed him down on the bed as she cupped his face in her hands as she kissed him hard on the mouth, pushing her tongue into his mouth as their tongues began to dance around each other. Vale wrapped an arm around her waist as he pulled her close against him before she broke their kiss, panting breathlessly with flushed cheeks as she broke the string of saliva connecting their tongues as she panted,
"Not that you asked, but I have so many things I like about you. I love that you always find a way to keep your sense of humor even during a fight, you never let anything get to you. You always make me laugh even when I feel terrible. You make me feel safe. You put yourself on the line to defend me from any kind of attack. The last thing is... I just know you'll always return to me. I know you've never said it, but I feel it in 'here'." she said quietly as she placed his hand on her breast directly over her heart.
"Well, if I haven't said it before, I'll say it now. I promise, come hell or high water, I will always return to you..." he said as he let his voice trail off, before leaning up and whispering in her ear,
"My Princess" he finished with a breathless whisper. This apparently pushed Rias over the edge as she kissed him even harder than before...
Rias left the following morning to participate in her Rating Game which was now happening in an hour. Vale caught most of her game on TV, including Issei's crushing loss to Saji's Vritra Promotion. Though Akeno won Rias the day with her Holy Lightning against Saji. The rest was easily taken care of by Koneko and Kiba. The game ended when Sona took the full brunt of Durandal's Holy aura directly in the face. Vale didn't socialize any more with anyone as he spent the next week working on his newest project...
A week later back at Kuoh Academy...
Vale dropped his bag to the floor as he settled back into his room at the old schoolhouse when his phone began to ring,
"What is it Azazel?" Vale said as he continued setting up his mother's resort in the corner of the room.
"Hey, did you hear that Michael is sending a representative to Kuoh Academy? He feels that the Angels need a representative as well."
"Oh great, what blithering idiot do I have to deal with now?" He asked as he heaved the bottle up onto its stand...
Over in Arthur and Vali's room...
"So have you told Vale that his ex is gonna be a permanent fixture from now?" Arthur asked the [Queen] as he stowed Caliburn in his closet.
"No, I was gonna do it after we get all settled in." Vali said as he dropped his bag in his trunk.
"THEY'RE SENDING WHO?!" Vale roared loud enough to wake up the entire academy.
"Hey, look. He knows." Vali remarked as he flopped onto the bed and put his feet up and proceeded to take a nap.
Author's Note: Here you are guys. I decided to scrap the Fairy Tail member and go with a new member. If any of you have seen the big blockbuster that came out earlier this month in theaters you might know who his new [Pawn] is. Here's a hint, "Hail HYDRA". Please Review if you have time. I'll let you guess until next time whether or not Vale and Rias had sex... Vale's ringtone is "The Devil Is A Loser" by Lordi. I guess that's it. This is the 19th Angel signing off...