High School PxD
"What if Issei joined the Phenex family?"
A High School DxD Fanfiction by Christopher'Zazel
Chapter 18 "Be a Gentleman"
Scene (Phenex Mansion, Lady Phenex's Chambers)
Issei was standing at the large twin doors of the ladies bedroom. Once Ni and Li escorted him, they politely excused themselves, leaving Issei alone and very nervous.
(Knock Knock Knock)
"You may enter!" Lady Phenex's voice was clear from the otherside of the door.
Gulping, Issei turned both door handles and slowly walked in. "Hello, Miss Phenex, Ma'am." The teen attempted to keep a smile on his face even though he was very concerned.
The lady was standing near what looked to be an old fashioned vinyl player. Wearing a turn of the century cocktail dress, gold and red in color, the blonde was carefully placing the player-needle onto the rotating record.
"Yes, welcome, Issei. If you don't mind, please take what I have laid out for you, on the bed. Just take it into the bathroom over there and put it on." The woman smiled when an unfamiliar song began to play on her old record player.
Issei looked over toward her very luxurious bed. Expecting to see some kind of gimp-suit, like the one from Pulp Fiction, Issei was surprised to see a freshly pressed tuxedo with gold cufflinks.
"Um, alright, ma'am…" Issei quickly took hold of the pants, shirt, dinner jacket, black socks and the pair of black dress shoes while making his way toward an equally luxurious looking bathroom.
Carefully closing the door and using one of the many mirrors, Issei managed to dress himself except when the bowtie was involved. Issei was cursing himself for only knowing how to wear a clip on version. Undoing the collar button, Issei figured he looked swagger enough. Placing the bowtie in his pocket, Issei walked from the bathroom only to see Lady Phenex standing directly in front of the door.
Issei flinched at the jumpscare as the lady eyeballed him up and down. She then tilted her head with a look of dissatisfaction.
"Issei, where is your tie?" Lady Phenex reaches over and buttons Issei's collar once more.
Looking embarrassed, Issei reluctantly pulled the tie from his pocket. "I'm sorry, Lady Phenex, but I don't know how to put these on."
Looking at his hand which was grasping the tie, Lady Phenex then smiled warmly. "Sweety, don't be ashamed of not knowing how to tie a tie correctly. Come here, let mother Phenex take care of this."
Before the teen knew it, he was blushing as Lady Phenex was extremely close to him as she was scrupulously fashioning his tie into the older victorian style with long edges.
"Lovely, now all that we need to do is…" The lady uses both of her hands to softly place Issei's hair into a less chaotic state. "La perfection, vraiment!"
Issei tilted his head a bit. "Was that French?"
Lady Phenex nods proudly. "Naturally, a lady of my definition doesn't really require alluring devices such as the elegant language of human-France, however I feel it adds to my pedigree not to mention my renown. Not to brag, of course. Fufufufu!"
"Yeah, I guess French is one of those classy languages after all." Issei mentions politely.
"Speaking of class, darling, allow me to explain why you are here." Lady Phenex directed the teen back toward her bed while smiling normally.
"D'Draig, is this gonna lead where I think it's leading?" Issei was hoping that his sleeping dragon was awake.
"SNORE SNORE SNORE"
Deciding that D'draig was indeed a lazy dragon, Issei sat down beside the lady at the foot of the bed. She then placed a hand on the teen's lap. "Oh yeah!, MILF time!", Issei thought.
"About your "punishment." Lady Phenex grew a malicious grin.
All perverted thoughts instantly were removed from the teens mind, only to be replaced with fear.
"You are now going to learn etiquette." The taller blond waited for a response while she blinked a few times.
"Etiquette? Are you talking about fancy stuff?" Issei tilted his head.
"You mentioned class earlier, right? Well, what's class without etiquette? Issei Hyoudou, I will make it my mission to mold you into the perfect gentleman!" Lady Phenex declared proudly.
Issei rubbed the back of his head in confusion. "So, you want me to be one of those snobby rich folk?"
Squeezing Issei's lap lightly, Lady Phenex shakes her head while showing a serious expression. "Oh Underworld's no! There is a very large and noticeable difference between arrogance and class. Arrogance, (at least in my eyes), says that you are lacking in something, therefore you feel the need to boast. Class on the other hand, well that is knowing how to present yourself in a charismatic way. Dancing, Table Manners, Music Theory, Appreciation for Classical Arts and Music, basically traits that any well-to-do woman would find admirable in a compatible mate."
Issei can't help but feel overwhelmed. "Um, Ma'am, I don't think I can do all of that stuff. Dancing? I've never even played Dance Dance Revolution. Also…" Issei felt a little offended as he stared back at the lady with a hint of agitation. "What's wrong with the way I eat?"
Lady Phenex raises an eyebrow while maintaining her smile. "Sweetheart, I don't want to sound as if I am picking on you, but…" She then raises her other eyebrow. "You were literally using a spoon while attempting to eat your eggs, bacon and even your sausage, earlier this morning." The lady then replayed that image in her memory once more. "Fu Fu Fu Fu!"
Issei's agitated expression grew slightly. "I'm used to chopsticks!"
"Pfft! HAHAHAHA!" The lady was now laughing wildly after seeing Issei's reaction to her ridicule.
Issei finally had enough and stood up. "Stop making fun of me!"
"Aww, come on now, I'm just joking around. Besides, table manners are something that takes less than an hour of your time. Also, I'll clue you in on a cheat that I used as a little girl." Lady Phenex also stood up and placed her hands on the teens shoulders. "When it comes to silverware, always use the ones furthest from the plate, then work your way inward as each course comes along." The lady then winks.
Issei tilted his head. "Really? So when there are like twelve forks, you just use the outside one first? It's that easy?"
Lady Phenex nods. "Congratulations, Issei Hyoudou. Already you are being molded into the perfect gentleman, without even knowing it!"
As the day continued, Lady Phenex introduced Issei to a plethora of 'the finer things in life'. Issei had to admit that dancing wasn't that hard as the lady seemed to be a very patient teacher. After the dance lessons, afternoon tea was brought to the room along with a fancy assortment of lunch sandwiches. Once finished, the lady treated Issei with a viewing of the art gallery, (located in the very far east wing of the mansion).
After seeing some interesting and some very boring artwork, Issei was pleasantly surprised to see a section labeled, "Ravel Phenex's Achievement Wall".
"What is this, Lady Phenex?" Issei was very curious.
"Ahh yes, my little daughter was always proud of her little accomplishments, so years ago, I had this constructed for her. Though, as she is older, I'm sure she would want this removed, especially now that you are here, Fu Fu Fu". The lady giggled.
Seeing everything from the "Ravel's first Training Bra" exhibit to her embarrassing but very cute baby pictures, (some of them were taken with her older sister), Issei's eyes widened suddenly at a set of very crudely drawn pictures.
Walking closer toward the pictures, Issei's eyes began to water up slightly. The first picture looked to be drawn in colored crayons. It was a stick figure that was carrying another stick figure. The taller one had brown scribbles for his hair while the smaller one had yellow scribbles. The background showed a square with a triangle on top with yellow and orange wiggly lines sprouting from the top. The box and triangle were clearly representing a house or building. The next picture showed a similar story, however it had a bit more detail. As Issei's eyes continued to water, each picture was a drawing of the same scene, just with better detail as the years went by.
Feeling a hand on the back of his shoulder, the lady spoke quietly. "As a mother, I am very grateful for what you did." She then moves her hand and touches his back very gently. "Even though she is a Phenex, at her young age, that building would have most certainly killed her."
Issei sniffled a few times and then turned back to meet Lady Phenex's eyes. "I'm sorry. I really didn't know. I really messed up."
"How do you mean?" The lady tilts her head.
Taking a deep breath while using his hand to loosen his neck tie, Issei replied nervously. "Ravel and I…"
The lady giggles. "Fu Fu Fu, oh, you're worried about that? Calm yourself, Hyoudou. My daughter is a big girl and can take responsibility. Though, my older one, I don't really think I can say the same…" Lady Phenex placed an index finger to her chin while smirking. "I mean she really can be a blockhead sometimes…"
Issei shakes his head in frustration. "But, that was her first…I mean, that was also my…um…" The teen just couldn't put into words what he was feeling.
"Let me ask you a question, Hyoudou Issei…" The lady was now staring back at Issei with a very serious expression all of the sudden.
"Um, yes?" Issei looked nervous.
"Are you planning on breaking my little Ravel's heart?" Once again, there was that venom in the lady's voice.
"Fuck no! I love Ravel!" Issei placed a hand over his own mouth as a blush took over his usual pale features.
The lady instantly smiles warmly. "And that right there, Issei Hyoudou, is why I don't have any issue. Love her and your life will be an easy one. Break her heart however…" Lady Phenex takes a step back as her eyes begin to glow with yellow flames. "You will regret it."
Issei's expression turns from slightly frightened to something more brave. Taking a step forward, and relaxing his posture, Lady Phenex is suddenly surprised to feel both of Issei's hands on her shoulders.
"You're a good mom." Issei speaks seriously.
Instantly, Lady Phenex's fiery eyes extinguish. "Um?"
"You have my word, Lady Phenex, that I will do everything in my power to make Ravel happy." Issei announced with a proud smile.
Seeing the truth in his warm and brown eyes, Lady Phenex's admiration for Issei tripled in her quantifying mind. "Well now, those are quite the words. Alright then, it's settled. I will speak with Mao Serafall Leviathan."
Issei tenses up. "What do you mean, "settled"?"
"Well, obviously you have just asked for my blessing and naturally, I accept." The lady then brings an index finger toward her chin. "Hmm, well then, even if my blockhead daughter loses against your master, I should let them know that you will be a member of this household. I'm sure that Sirzechs sama will figure something out. After all, unless you are traded to the house of Phenex, there will have to be a joint ownership between Ravel and Sona Sitri."
Issei's jaw is agape. "Wait, by your blessing, are you saying what I think you're saying?"
Using her same index finger to lift Issei's jaw back into his mouth, Lady Phenex replies with a slight grin. "Well, there is the small matter of marriage. But it's nothing for you to be concerned about, my boy. Besides, you look smashing in a tuxedo, (if I do say so myself).
"Marriage? You want me to marry Ravel?" The teen suddenly sat back down at the end of the bed in shock.
"Oh deer, I almost forgot, the in-laws…" Lady Phenex sits down next to Issei again while smiling brightly. "Your mother and father, yes, I think it's time that I have a discussion with them."
Issei feels like he is about to pass out. Considering that he did the deed, marriage isn't something that should sound all that surprising, however the circumstances were very stressful. Issei was a devil, who belonged to Sona Sitri. According to Ravel, (not to mention her earlier actions), Sona loves him. Sona is also a very wrathful person. How will she feel knowing Issei is getting married to another high class devil? It was terrifying enough to know that he had tons of school work to catch up on now, (under the unforgiving lash of Sona), but now, when she finds out he's getting married, how will she take it?
Issei could internally envision Sona relentlessly having the Kendo girls beat him senseless as she cackled like some evil queen. For some reason, parts of this vision were turning him on. Then suddenly…
"Alright, Issei, please do me a favor and fetch little Ravel. Bring her back to my room. After that, we are going to meet your parents." Lady Phenex winked. "Also, you are leaving 'that' on." The tall blonde beauty now pointed at Issei's tuxedo.
Thanks again to my discordies for all of your help! Overlord, Yuki, and Wargame. Also, thanks to my Balance Breaker Premium member, Moexdestroyer, appreciate the support! This is Christopher'Zazel, signing out.
Discord Link: /6n6Cmm9Z