People move on. It's simply how time works, regardless of how strong or weak minded people are. Regardless of how they feel about leaving things behind. Time has a way to change perspective, or perhaps perspective has always been a vassal to time. Unable to stay put even for a single second. This is how people change, and why friendships can end, why slights can become wholehearted vendettas. Moving on, then, might not be right. It'd be more accurate to say that opinions change, that people themselves cannot remain rooted to their former selves.
Diodora had this strange thought while the Three Factions leaders eased up. Had it been the same boy that walked out of his father's funeral… Would he have done the same? Would he have fought this desperately back then? He had been only 14, even if he considered himself clever and smarter than most. Back then, his kid self had lacked something fundamental that only started filling up after the trial. After his brother moved out of the house and left with the money he took.
"What is the meaning of this?" Michael's voice shook Diodora, but he stayed put. Not saying anything. It made the angel's brow twitch "Diodora Astaroth, explain yourself at once."
Diodora didn't open his mouth, he didn't look up at the leaders. Instead, he waited. Gave up on reason and chance alike, biding his time like someone that has nothing else to lose.
Doing nothing seldom works as a tactic. Problems that solve themselves were never problems to begin with, and Diodora liked it so little that he usually distracted himself with small goals. With ideas that fell into the process, at least while in this world. Because this world is the one that had the most problems for him.
Acting normal, hanging out. Things like that made it so the two peerages in Kuoh didn't get weird ideas about him. Which would help, ideally, in times like this one. When he got accused of things he couldn't deny, when he needed to resort to some good old fashioned appeal to emotion.
He heard shuffling and a bit of struggling from the side lines, but he didn't open his eyes. Ignoring them now was necessary. Being open to attacks, lowering his guard like this, made him feel sick. But Diodora pushed through, he thought of an opossum. Acting dead to avoid predators, but looking lame in the eyes of people.
Diodora stopped himself from chuckling.
"Fate Wea—" Azazel started, making Diodora's stomach turn. But what really made him open his eyes was the sound of power being used.
The Queen released him as Fate Weaver's Sacred Gear came close to Diodora's face, having moved to look back when Fate Weaver's steps reached his ears.
Yuuto and Genshirou stood between the devils and the Miracle Child, one with twin swords and one with tendrils coming out from his arms and grabbing them with the opposite one. Making some sort of whip-made obstruction for the Miracle Child.
It didn't matter, Fate Weaver had stopped on his own. But Diodora still appreciated having these two react so quickly.
Miyuzuin placed herself beside Sona's Queen. A hand behind her back and the other holding one of Yuuto's blades.
"Go back." Genshirou growled, tension all over his body as he released the whips from his hands and let them down. They moved in place, like snakes slithering without actually advancing. Like they had a life of their own.
"C'mon dude, this is getting really annoying." Fate Weaver clicked his tongue, placing his sword Sacred Gear on his right shoulder. A clear indication that he had no intention of fighting "We all know this guy's full of shit. That we're even here is simple procedure."
"Fate Weaver, don't speak like that in a place like this." Michael sighed, looking more annoyed now "No matter what, this is still an official meeting between Heaven, the Underworld, and the Grigori. And we're all going to respect it as such."
"He literally tried to attack you." Star Seeker interjected.
"He tried to kill himself, you silly child." Serafall hissed, going around the table and placing her hands on one of Diodora's shoulders and below his ribs. Almost like she wanted to help him support himself "All of you, get out. It's clear that bringing you all was a mistake."
"Sister…" Sona started, but the older Sitri silenced her with a glance.
"Everyone." Serafall spoke while looking at her beloved little sister "Please."
Even if Sona wanted to, this would probably be the last time Serafall asked nicely. Even if the Demon Lord of Leviathan couldn't be called anything but the nicest of her group, she still had to hold her position and act accordingly. To let devils walk all over her words, no matter if they belonged to her own household, would imply weakness on her part and a fault in the Underworld's system that couldn't exist in the face of the rest of the world. She, who dealt with public affairs like this, more than anyone else knew how important reputation was.
"I understand." Sona closed her eyes and nodded gravely, only to turn her head and signal her peerage to follow her out of the room. Which they did, one by one. In an orderly fashion. Very Sona, if Diodora could pretend he knew anything about her "Please excuse us."
"Okay, then." Star Seeker hummed "Call me if something happens, please?"
"You will be called if you're needed." Michael's reply came a bit cold, but with such precision that it left no room for misinterpretation of complaints.
"Ah… Got it." Star Seeker sounded disappointed, but said nothing else.
"Bu-bye, Shiki-chan!" Azazel waved her off, making the girl behind him scoff and hit him on the shoulder "Ow, jeez. Are you jealous, Bel? She's just a student, you're the only kid I take care of, promise."
Star Seeker didn't reply.
"Like hell I'd care about that." The girl scoffed, crossing her arms while looking away "Concentrate on the important things, old man. You're making us both look bad."
"Gen-kun, Yuni. Come back." Rias interrupted, taking advantage of the way Azazel lightened the mood for the rest of the people present "Let's go."
"But…" Genshirou started, but Rias' group had already started moving "Hey, we can't just leave this guy here!"
"Fate Weaver is also leaving." Michael interjected.
"No way, that's hardly fair." Fate Weaver unsummoned his Sacred Gear, seeing how his unprotected stance didn't help "I'm not the one making this more difficult. Are you trying to tell me that, after all that's happened, you will just let this guy toy with you all?"
Serafall started emitting ice particles, making Diodora hiss in pain as his immediate surroundings flash-froze and his skin and injuries hardened as a result.
"Fate Weaver." Michael's voice became completely devoid of emotion. Almost sounding like living static, which sent shivers down Diodora's spine as he forced himself to stay with his eyes shut "Are you disobeying a direct order from Heaven?"
"That's not fair… I—."
The only warning Diodora got was the feeling of holiness biting at his skin, which finally forced him to open his eyes. The room had become bright and golden, and he only narrowly saw the figure of Michael motioning toward Fate Weaver before the light and the Miracle Child were sucked into a single point, not to be seen after a moment.
Michael sighed and got back to his chair and Diodora remembered to start breathing again.
"Yuni?" Rias called out, now sounding more in a hurry than before.
"I'll stay." Miyuzuin stated "I don't answer to you."
"Yuni, please. Read the—."
"No." Miyuzuin repeated "What part don't you get? No."
Miyuzuin pointed a finger at the girl behind Azazel, looking deadly serious and in control of her emotions in spite of having three beings that could snuff her out with a movement all looking at her.
"I won't move until this girl does. I'm not leaving Lord Diodora alone like this, it's not fair."
The girl smirked.
"I can get you out by force, if you prefer that." Twin wings with blue diamond-like constructs sprung from her back, forcing Diodora to close his eyes again.
He didn't want to feel more out of place now, but seeing who the White Dragon Emperor was now, he couldn't help feeling trepidation. It meant that he didn't completely understand this world, that his information didn't completely fit in this new reality.
It meant that he had yet another weakness he couldn't cover up for without Stain's assistance.
"Don't get in trouble with the White Dragon… I want to say Empress?" Diodora finally spoke up, using his most tired voice available. He stared at the Lucifer girl, who gave him a cocky nod in response "Back off, I don't want anyone else to be hurt because of me."
"It's not about you in particular." Miyuzuin insisted "All of this just doesn't feel fair."
"Fairness…" Diodora stopped himself, having spoken more harshly than he meant. He took a deep breath "...Is besides the point at the moment."
"That's not right." Serafall interjected "Never think like that, Diodora-chan. This is why we're here, why we've reunited. So there's fairness for everyone, so we can stop making the same mistakes we've been making for centuries."
Serafall allowed Diodora a bit of room, and he realized they were finally the only ones in the room. With only Miyuzuin being left.
Diodora nodded at her.
"Hmp." Miyuzuin crossed her arms "You're just coming back from a panic attack, are you sure?"
Diodora smiled for himself. This clever girl never ceased to amaze him. She always knew just what to do to give him a small margin of advantage.
"I… I don't know." Diodora blinked, surprised at his lack of air. Like he actually felt so disheartened that his body had more or less shut down for a moment "But… If what Lady Serafall is right, then I have a mission to accomplish."
Diodora schooled his features, feeling somewhat safe in Serafall and Miyuzuin's proximity. Feeling more in charge, more in his comfort zone.
He glared, and when he did he looked up to the ceiling. As if looking at the sky, or at someone no one else could see.
"It might be too late to prevent those I cherish from paying for my own foolishness but…" Diodora showed his teeth, genuinely feeling the need to tear someone apart as Shalba's image came to mind "As a member of the 72… No. As a devil, I must take revenge. This journey started due to my own shortcomings, because I selfishly thought I could make a difference, be recognized. But now… Yes. This is a lot more personal."
Diodora grinned at Serafall, who looked rather worried about the sudden change of attitude.
"Diodora-chan, I understand that you must be confused right now. But please calm down before you hurt yourself any more." Serafall took one of Diodora's hands. He pulled back.
"No. This is something I must do." Diodora swallowed "Even if… Even if it takes the last drop of my blood. It's something I started, and I'd rather die than leave things as they stand."
Diodora pulled back a couple of steps, regarding the whole room. For some reason, the other two had remained silent. And Bel kept her attention on Diodora all this time, perhaps because she understood better than anyone present the whole context. Because she too had something to lose in all of this.
"Lady Serafall, Archangel Michael, General Governor Azazel…" Diodora gritted his teeth, showing his hands at all of them, essentially giving them the right to take him down then and there "I, Diodora Astaroth, request that I am charged as a traitor to the Underworld. I've tainted my hands by joining them with the organization known as the Khaos Brigade, and my foolishness cost the lives of my father and mother… Please do with me what you will."
Diodora expected their surprise, perhaps not that radical from Bel's side, but he could understand how such a declaration would shatter the line of thought the leaders of the factions had. Only Azazel, who likely had some idea of the group's existence, kept his head cool and started analyzing Diodora with a different gaze. One that seemed to look for hints of something that Diodora did not have.
"So that's how it is." Azazel murmured while covering his chin with his hand, having the opposite hold the elbow "I had my theories but… The Khaos Brigade, huh."
"You know of this?" Michael eyed Azazel, without turning his head. Looking more grim than before "Is there going to be a point where you stop revealing secrets that were being held back from us?"
"I know very little, and as far as I understand this would be better addressed with actual proof of how big they are." Azazel's amused tone was completely gone, replaced with the analytic precision of a scientist "They've worked in the shadows for some time, and I'm honestly surprised it has come to this here of all places… We're probably in for a rude awakening."
Diodora dropped his hands, getting to a knee instead.
"Indeed. The Khaos Brigade has grown right under our collective noses. It's gotten to the point that they started recruiting people in plain daylight, promising power and resources in exchange for obedience." Diodora sighed "I-I ought to urge you to take precautions. The Khaos Brigade has grown to the point that they could make big moves sooner rather than later, it could even threaten the power balance that our Demon Lords have established with their own might."
"And you say you're a part of such an organization?" Michael finally regarded Diodora directly.
"Merely a pawn, but yes." Diodora nodded, doing his best to not start babbling about it without explicitly being asked anything.
A very important part of appearing confident and truthful has to do with how much information is given at once. Diodora wanted to get away without repercussions for the original's actions, so he had to sell the idea that he felt remorse for his actions. It wouldn't do to have a villain meltdown and rant about how he could prove his innocence. Instead, he had to lead the present leaders to the conclusion he wanted: That punishing him would neither be fair nor productive.
And how do people get away with being awful? By showing remorse, of course. If they asked for more details, great. Part of the strategy would make them want to ask. But these things needed a sensible touch, a soft hand.
"What does that even mean?" Serafall's ice kept biting at Diodora's skin, freezing his eyelashes and making him shiver as she grabbed his shoulders "Wha… Diodora-chan. You understand what you're saying, right?"
Diodora gave Miyuzuin a look. She hadn't left, but walked a bit of the distance toward the door while he occupied the leaders with his words.
"Lord Diodora and I met during one of my incursions to the Khaos Brigade's hideouts." Miyuzuin hurried to explain before she could be kicked out of the room for real "We clashed, but came to an understanding after he explained his situation to me. The reason why his abomination wasn't hunted down was precisely because of this too."
Diodora nodded at her.
"The Oblex." Serafall blinked "It's involved in this too? How… How deep are you in this?"
"I gave Genshirou his Shadow Prison." Diodora let his words hang in the air for a moment "I think I'm way too deep to pull back."
"They had it." Azazel understood immediately, blinking as if things had gotten clear all of a sudden "Of course. Then that means that Satanael is alive too. I doubt anyone else could hold Sacred Gears out of prying eyes… Yet that doesn't explain how you found it."
Diodora tilted his head.
"The slime." Azazel grinned "Ah. I see, I understand now."
Diodora glanced at Bel discreetly, trying to keep her in his field of vision. Even if only on its periphery.
Now that he had a better look at her, Diodora recognized her from the Khaos Brigade HQ. She had been the girl he saw briefly as he strong-armed Kuroka into joining his cause, resting her back against the huge pillars on that place while looking at him with disapproval.
Diodora suppressed a shiver. Had he not presented his argument before using violence on the catgirl… Would he have had to fight the Vanishing Dragon? Even before Ophis' snake carved out his flesh, Diodora didn't think he'd be able to fight a Longinus user at all. Much less if that user was the strongest White Dragon Emperor of past, present, and future.
Azazel's cackle brought Diodora out of his thoughts.
"You're a real piece of work!" The fallen angel covered his eyes "Man, of course. From what the others have said, you're just the right kind of desperate fool to pull off something this stupid."
"Azazel?" Michael frowned at the fallen angel.
"I…" Diodora didn't know what to say. He hated the fact that Azazel would look down on him like this, no matter how good for his plan it was. Because he couldn't focus on it, because that'd hurt the image he tried to create.
"Let me guess." Azazel showed a satisfied grin. The kind that people got after solving a puzzle or winning a particularly difficult game "The church gets the jump on you during one of your 'saving' trips, the reason doesn't matter, and most of your peerage gets killed. You retreat to the Underworld and someone shady but very convincing promises power and you fell for it like the desperate kid you were. And suddenly you're surrounded by very scary people you don't know how to deal with-!"
"Hold on, hold on, hold on." Serafall interrupted "You're still going too fast! Can we please take into consideration that Diodora-chan almost died by his own hands?!"
"Serafall is right." Michael placed a hand on Azazel's shoulder "If this is all true, I want to hear about this in more detail. From you, Azazel. We took the time to look at every angle, take everyone's stories. And we can't have you just ignore all of that for this boy's story."
"You have no idea the pain in the ass the Khaos Brigade can be." Azazel shrugged the hand off "All I see is someone dying to tell us their secrets, and I think we should let him."
"It's not right." Serafall insisted.
"Serafall, dear. Look at him." Azazel reached out for Diodora, grabbing him by the clothes and shaking him a little. Diodora let him "The only thing that fills him is rage. I don't think you understand what that feels, being so empty that nothing can keep you going but a single feeling. A single thing without which you can no longer go on."
Michael opened his mouth but closed it immediately. Had he wanted to talk about the death of his God?
"We fallen angels are like that. When we were cast off of Heaven, something changed. We were left irrevocably less than we used to be. Blind and without anything that could hold our existences together. Only those that had a strong enough goal, or fixation, managed to stay sane for long enough to regroup and organize. The weakest of us went insane, there's some that pulled themselves back… Eventually. And I can't be certain that even my brothers like Baraqiel or Shemhazai are well." Azazel looked straight at Didora's eyes, a knowing smile on his lips "I've seen that emptiness so many times it hurts. That need for something, anything that can keep you going. It's not just rage, is it? You'd tear your own body apart if it means making the Khaos Brigade bleed, right? You need to take revenge so desperately that you'd pray to the guy upstairs if he promised a chance for redemption."
Diodora felt a knot form in his throat. He wanted to say so many things out of the blue, and felt the need to explain. To unravel himself then and there.
He was not the real Diodora, this cursed body had been forced onto him by circumstances he neither understood nor controlled. And every single day in this world felt like another day he was dragged toward his death.
He didn't feed his original peerage because he wanted to, he did it so no evidence of the original Diodora's taint remained. He hadn't wanted to hurt Olivia, he simply couldn't understand nor fulfill the promises the original Diodora made her. And he certainly didn't join the Khaos Brigade because he wanted to. But instead got forced into submission by the already established cooperation the original Diodora had with them.
Diodora fell to his knees, covering his face.
"What was I supposed to do…?" He wheezed, feeling so weak he almost thought he'd sleep for another year if he didn't keep speaking "I didn't have a choice. There were no pathways available to me, nowhere to run or hide. I had nothing, and yet…"
His chest hurt. Not physically, at least not externally, but in a more private way. A lot more meaningful.
"Diodora-chan…" Serafall whispered, and he could feel her soft hand on her head "You've struggled a lot, haven't you?"
"I chose Genshirou to protect myself too." He didn't know where that came from. No one said anything about the blond, but he couldn't stop speaking now "I… I didn't know. I didn't want to endanger anyone. I simply thought his power was my best chance to survive."
Diodora could almost see his father shaking his head, sneering and saying that his teaching were wasted on someone as soft as him. It made the wetness in his eyes get worse, no matter how many years since that man's death had passed.
He had been just a boy. Only 14 when that man died. And everyone moved on, but he never forgot the treatment. The way his parents expected him to be better than his brother, the way his older brother thought of him as a monster.
And yet…
"...Why?! What was I supposed to do?!" L**i**s Br*d**y couldn't stop wailing.