Author's PreNote
I want to thank Luna and Oxblood for beta reading and editing the chapter and providing feedback : D, 3!
And holy cow, this chapter took me soooo long to write...
The longest one yet, 8.7 k words : o
So... This is an intermission chapter, hahaha, sorry x.x, but it's super necessary for the next events : ). This chapter will be on a character's past, won't tell you yet who's, you will find out in the later scenes right away who's it is. I wanted to add present scenes, but nah, didn't flow right. Again, this chapter is super necessary for later. You do get to see some of Adam in the past : D
- Remember, trust the process and flow to this story : )
Before Reading
Also, there are two songs that I highly encourage you to play and listen to when the scene specifies to do so since, well, they are meant to go with the scenes. The following songs are, please look the up on youtube or apple music. It be easier if you read the chapter in ao3 since the hyperlinks work there:
** What's Up - 4 Non Blondes **
And
** Paradise City - Gun N' Roses **
Again like last time I included music, I added a number * (...) based on how long you got to wait before reading the next portion of the scene. Enjoy those lyrics!. * In the last, last scene, last part of the music there is no more (...) cause that load of paragraphs is meant to be read while the music/lyrics plays. Hopefully it's not so confusing v,v. Couldn't include all the lyrics cause of copyright rules : o
Play the music the moment I bring up the titles in the chapter, also, the music titles are hyperlinks so you can click on them if you want - remember to wait for the ads to finish : o
Guest Responses: Thank you : ), yah, i like making the angels not like 'evil', and totally gonna go more into that later in the story
Chapter 7
The Past
Every decade, fragments of Michael's feathers were used to create warrior-class angels. Their handler, Wimdor, assigned numerical designations to the newly formed beings the moment they opened their eyes to the lights of heaven.
Now, warrior-class angels were a recent addition among angel races, having come into existence only in the past centuries. They were trained from the beginning to confront any menace daring to disrupt the tranquility of heaven. Their roles were as important as those of the other naturally born angels; they were guards and protectors for all.
Upon reaching maturity, Wimdor promised the angel warriors that the captain assigned to them would give them actual names if they passed their final trial — something that 666 and many of her sisters looked forward to. Of course, there were countless things that 666 hoped to achieve as she trained tirelessly with her sisters. Her goal was to become one of the best lieutenants that heaven has ever been blessed with, in order to protect them and to help maintain order.
Like many of her sisters, she was fast, strong, and fearless. However, she exhibited a rough edge during sparring sessions, sometimes severely injuring a sister, which earned her frequent reprimands from Wimdor. Nonetheless, she remained Wimdor's favorite because, according to her, she followed every order given to her without question, unlike her sisters, who sometimes lacked self-control and were not as bright.
666 usually found herself disappointed with most of her sisters around the same age as her, as they tended to be rowdy everywhere they went, especially at their home at the Guardian Academy. 666 sometimes wished she had been created earlier alongside their older and more serious sisters because, truth be told, the new batch of future warrior angels just seemed to be of a different breed.
Among her sisters, around her age, she tolerated 667. 667 was created alongside her and her 8 other sisters. However, 667, like her, followed the rules and kept to herself. She was also not foolish enough to be obsessed with the terrible example — who 666 believed was a bad influence over her sisters and on the rest of the population — from heaven, the first human to enter paradise, Adam, also known as the 'rebellious' angel or the 'celebrity of the winners.'
Adam, the man turned angel, seemed out of place in heaven. 666 and 667 liked to think he was the high-rank angels' favorite 'toy'. Of course, both would do their best to keep such an opinion to themselves, but it wasn't hard to see how Adam was treated favorably over everyone else. The human angel could get away with disrupting the peaceful ways of heaven. He often wore a mask with horns, as if he were some demon most of the time; 667 had once told her he probably did it because he was obsessed with attention and looking like a demon would definitely make him stand out. There was even once when he had placed large horns on one of the sacred statues of heaven to promote one of his concerts and still had the luxury to play said concert. Also, he was so loud, according to 667. Adam caused so much 'chaos' yet wasn't punished for anything, which honestly aggravated 666.
She never could understand how someone like Adam could act like the opposite of an angel and still hold so much power and respect. Then again, she heard from rumors how Adam wasn't always such a wild card. Supposedly, he used to be a peaceful angel like the rest before he went to Earth for 12 years.
Thankfully, she never had to interact with him and never actually saw him in person. She had only heard of him from her sisters and seen pictures of him and on television as a guest appearance for some interview.
Anyway, when one of her sisters, 664, with hair usually all over the place, tried inviting her and 667 to one of Adam's concerts late that night, she couldn't help but reject the offer immediately.
"Come on, you two, don't be so lame," 664 chided as they walked back to their quarters, wearing their off-white uniforms, after finishing their chores in the kitchen. "Adam's concerts aren't happening as frequently these days, so we have to make the most of them while we can."
"Don't happen as often? Probably because they're not as great as everyone makes them out to be," 667 remarked bluntly, earning a scoff of amusement from 666.
"Are you kidding me? They're freaking amazing!" another sister, 662, taller than the others, exclaimed. "Tonight's going to be huge. So huge, in fact, that they had to move the venue outside the city so no one could miss out. Almost everyone is going to be there."
"Almost everyone," 666 stated without a care as she and 667 entered their room, which they shared with their 8 other sisters. Their beds stood alongside one side of the walls while on the opposite side stood their storage dressers, where they kept their spare uniforms.
"Well, suit yourselves," 664 snorted before she and 662 departed, leaving 666 and 667 to go to bed as they were all supposed to do that night. Only for them to awaken with annoyance in the middle of the night when a powerful wave of sound shot through their room, startling them awake.
666 was excited to have finally reached the 'age' to prove herself, ready to take on the last trial to become a full-fledged warrior. She walked with a small group of her sisters, who were also taking their last trial, to a large pearl colored colosseum, far removed from the cities and towns of heaven.
The group positioned themselves on the benches, while another small group of their eldest sisters stood on the opposite side to oversee their trial.
Her gaze flitted to the sky as high-ranking angels descended to occupy the VIP enclave, as expected. She took notice of Emily, looking rather nervous as she settled beside Sera, while Wimdor and Zerachin claimed their positions on the opposite end.
666 didn't expect Emily to be there, and she wondered if Sera was finally showing her how 666 and her sisters had to prove themselves their worth to become guards of heaven. She waited a bit impatiently for her future captain to show up. Captains for the future graduates would make their appearance during the last trials and they would stand out by wearing a purple robe. She hoped Obemid was the one to come. He was one of the high-ranking angels and the most respected captain of them all. Only the best wanted him to be their leader, and one of her greatest desires was to become one of his lieutenants.
Yet, suddenly, another angel appeared through the portal with the signature dark purple robe, and instead of feeling excited, she felt her stomach drop when she recognized the large horns on his head.
Adam…
"Oh my god, is that Adam?" 664 gasped with mouth hanging wide open, drawing collective gazes from the group toward the sight of Adam plopping down onto the seat nonchalantly beside Emily, exuding an air of indifference.
"What is he doing here?" 666 murmured through gritted teeth, doing her best to stay calm, but of course, she was internally fuming seeing the human angel there instead of Obemid or any other captain,
"I've heard rumors of a new captain joining our ranks," 661 interjected to her sisters. "Do you think he's the new captain?"
"I didn't know Adam could fight," 663 mused.
"I don't think he can," 667 stated with a frown. "Nor does he have the leadership experience to lead anyone."
"Who cares? It's Adam!" 664 erupted. Her face brightened up with a gleeful grin, and immediately the rest, except for 666 and 667, shared the same expressions at the thought of Adam becoming their captain.
"This can't be happening…" 667 grumbled, casting a disappointed glance in the direction where a cheery Emily conversed with a pouty Adam. Arms folded tightly across her chest, 666 observed with annoyance at the way Adam looked bored, leaning further back on the chair, tapping his fingers on the armchair before he said something to Emily, who gave him a sympathetic smile.
Turning her attention away, 666 focused as the trials eventually began with 661 standing in the arena with her spear in hand. Gates on the ground opened and slowly, a large serpent entered the arena; it was 11 times the size of 661 and could fit her inside its mouth. The creature, its brown scales glistening under the heaven's light, slithered forth, closing the distance to 661.
The whole colosseum had fallen silent, then, in an instant, the serpent lunged towards 661. She evaded the deadly fangs, hurtling aside before shooting up at the sky.
666, for some reason, shifted her attention towards her superiors. Emily had her hands clasped over her mouth as she observed the scene with wide eyes full of terror. The other high-rank angels observed it rather calmly. Yet, Adam's demeanor completely changed as a spark of interest seemed to have set off something within him as he leaned forward, eyes wide with curiosity; for a mask, 666 could see so much expression from it…
As 661 deftly evaded the serpent's strikes and slit it at the back multiple times before she dodged another attack, Adam erupted into an enthusiastic outburst. "Holy shit, did you fuckin' see that?!" he exclaimed to the other angels with excitement as he had jumped on his feet, with his golden wings raised up, as if he was some child learning to fly for the first time with their new angelic wings. Emily remained frozen in shock; her gaze fixed on the way 661 flew around the colosseum as the serpent chased after her.
Sera acknowledged Adam's fervor with a simple nod before he grinned back at the arena. "Slice it up, baby!" he encouraged with a loud laugh as he leaned on the rail, his wings vibrating. "Don't show mercy! Come on! Don't let it get ya!"
661 glanced over to Adam with a grin before she lured the creature into a frenzied pursuit as she soared in graceful arcs around it. She then shot upward, with the serpent right behind her, but then 661 turned to face it, and leaned back in a graceful arc, her wings spreading wide as she flipped through the air. She descended towards the ground, then before she even hit the ground, she reversed her momentum, her wings beating fiercely against the air as she propelled herself upward and thrusted her spear upwards, slicing through the serpent's belly. The scales parted as the blades cut a deep, vertical gash from the bottom up to its chin.
Guts spilled from the serpent before it collapsed on the ground with a heavy thud.
"Fuck yeah, that was fuckin' rad!" Adam cheered loudly. "You rock!" He waved a rock and roll gesture, contrasted with the stoic demeanor of the other angels, while Emily released a relieved sigh with a hand on her chest.
Adam turned to look down over to the 666 and her sisters who were waiting their turn to finish their last trials.
"You better show your new captain what you got!" he called out with a sharp teeth grin. "Who's next? Come on, show me what you're made of! Make me proud!"
666's sisters were now more eager than before to showcase their skills to Adam, and as each one took their turn by taking down a large serpent, they would earn Adam's enthusiastic approval based on their unique tactics, just irritating 666 further every time. Her sisters all looked so pleased with themselves as they returned triumphant after completing their trials, their faces beaming with pride. And it seemed more like they were happy they got Adam's approval instead of the fact they have finished their last trial.
Eventually, it was 666's turn. She stood in the arena, her eyes fixed upon the gates slowly opening on the ground, her hand gripping tightly on her spear.
"Stab it in the mouth!" Adam shouted out with glee and amusement his voice echoing through colosseum, which earned him a disturbed look from Emily and an eye twitch from 666. "Come on, fuckin' do it! I believe in ya!"
666 clenched her teeth, doing her best to ignore him as her opponent began to rise in its full glory.
Before she knew it, the serpent hurled itself down at her. Instead of evading it like all her sisters have done, she launched herself towards it, her body moving by its own, quickly sliding into the creatures' gaping maw and with a flick of her wrist, she thrust her spear upwards, driving it deep into the roof of the serpent's mouth, earning a resounding crunch as the spear penetrated through the fleshy tissue, blood bursting out from the wound.
The creature reeled from the force before it began to collapse. 666 braced herself within its jaws as it eventually crashed to the ground. She took a moment to release the breath she had been holding on to before she yanked her spear free from the serpent's mouth, then she slipped from its grasp.
She ignored the mix of the serpent's fluids and blood on her as she stood tall before the stadium. Everyone had grown silent. The high rank angels looked rather impressed. Emily's eyes were wide, just like Adam's; she assumed they were surprised that she had taken the creature down quicker than any of her other sisters and she did exactly what Adam requested, which honestly, she wasn't sure why she had done what he wanted…
Then, as if breaking out of a spell, Adam burst out a huge grin before leaning over the rails, his wings shaking with joy. "That was fuckin' awesome!"
666 entered a room. Wimdor had summoned her a few hours before the graduation ceremony would take place.
As she stepped inside, she noticed Sera and Zerachin were sitting, engaged in a quiet conversation, their discussion coming to a halt as they turned their attention towards her.
"Thank you for joining us, 666," Sera greeted with a serene smile, motioning for 666 to take a seat at the small table. 666 bowed her head respectfully before settling into the chair across from them.
"Wimdor has spoken highly of you," Sera continued calmly. "She believes you to be among the best and holds high expectations for you."
The praise surprised 666, but she said nothing and only gave Sera a curt nod of acknowledgement.
"You adhere strictly to protocol and exhibit a commendable level of discipline," Zerachin added.
"Of course, I do whatever it takes to be worthy to protect heaven," 666 said, her tone resolute.
"And it is precisely because of that dedication we believe you are the ideal candidate for the task at hand," Zerachin declared calmly. "We want you to assume the role of Adam's first lieutenant starting tomorrow."
666 sat there in complete silence before her eyes widened in disbelief; she had hoped that somehow, she had been transferred to a different captain by how quickly she had taken down the creature.
"However, this role goes beyond mere following his orders," Sera interjected, her demeanor taking a serious turn. "We need you to serve as a mentor for Adam now that he's expected to adapt to his newfound responsibilities, and we believe you can help him keep him on course. Your flawless track record makes you the perfect candidate to guide him."
Sera paused, searching for the right words. "Adam will find it difficult to adjust to his new obligations. We can't trust just anyone for this request."
"So, you want me to babysit him?" 666 questioned, a frown creasing her brow.
"This is crucial, 666, Adam requires someone with experience and with a firm hand, someone resolute enough to make sure he's playing his part in heaven," Zerachin said with a serious tone.
"But he's Adam," 666 pointed out. "He holds a higher rank than I do. He's not going to just listen to me."
"Exceptions can be made, especially if Adam continues to neglect the duties given to him as of late."
666 took in her words, and truth be told, she wasn't sure if she was the best suited for the role. The human angel aggravated her. However, a request from the seraphims was a great honor to take, and now that she thought about it, the idea of helping a new captain flourish might provide her great opportunities in the future, like possibly getting transferred under Obemid...
666 rose to her seat. "I will fulfill your request without fail. You have my word," she said with a fist by her chest as a salute.
The graduation ceremony was simple as always.
The newly appointed guards stood in line in front of the large statue of archangel Michael by their Academy. They wore their new purple-grey uniforms and were given a brand-new spear, the blades now created from angelic materials instead of simple metals. Sera and few other high-ranking angels were present, and Adam was giving each newly converted warrior their names.
She couldn't believe he had the nerve to wear the demonic mask during the ceremony as well.
666 dreaded for her turn to come since he was naming each one with strange names like: Rebel, Wildhair, Crash, Fury, Terminator and other weird ones.
As he moved down the row, 666 couldn't help but notice that he was very tall, the tallest human she had seen in heaven. And the biggest in other ways…
She couldn't begin to understand how someone in heaven would get themselves to the point as he did.
Adam stepped in front of 666 and looked at her up and down but then skipped her as he turned to 667, which made 666 frown in confusion.
"Oh yes, you were quite the badass out there," he said to 667. "Pretty cool how you got that snake tied up in a knot like that. Pretty fuckin' hilarious." He then tilted his head to the side, humming in deep thought before a grin stretched across his face. "Yes! I got the perfect name for you," he announced loudly before jabbing a finger at 667. "I'll dub you after the best thing ever, Vaggie."
Majority blinked their eyes with confusion. Vaggie immediately frowned.
Nearby, Emily tugged at Adam's sleeve, prompting him to lean down to her level.
In a hushed whisper, Emily asked, "Is that short for Vagatha or vegetables?"
Adam let out a snort of laughter. "Nah, it's for something far greater. It's short for vagi-" He stopped abruptly and stared at Emily before affectionately patting her head, earning a frown of disapproval from Sera. "Sorry Em, maybe in a hundred years I'll tell you," he teased, eliciting a playful pout from the young seraphim angel.
Everyone else finally understood what the 667's name stood for, and they couldn't help but hold on to their laughter. Vaggie crossed her arms over her chest, avoiding eye contact with everyone while Adam continued to give out the rest of the names before finally going back to 666.
"Don't worry babe, I didn't forget about you," Adam said with amusement as he stood in front of her again. He leaned down, close to her face, which she had to fight back from tipping back or punching him. "Your name has to be very special, since you are going to be my future first lieutenant." He tapped his chin, and for a moment, a mischievous smile made its way to his face which made her stare at him with a cold intensity, as if daring him to give her a ridiculous name like he did with 667. Her silent threat actually made him falter for a moment, and he pulled back a bit from her personal bubble.
Adam twisted his mouth to the side, thinking, still tapping his chin before his eyes lit up. He snapped his fingers in realization with a grin. "Lute," he declared. "I'll name you Lute!"
Turning to Emily and Sera, he couldn't help his excitement. "Get it? Lute, Lieutenant? Ha! I'm a fuckin' genius!" he exclaimed, his voice brimming with self-satisfaction as he relished in his own wit.
Emily clasped her hands together with a warm smile up at Adam. "I love it," she said.
"That's actually quite a thoughtful name, Adam," Sera said with a soft smile. "It holds a sense of grace and elegance as well."
Adam looked surprised by the elder angel's praise and from her expression. He blinked, momentarily speechless, before a grin spread across his face with genuine delight.
"Of course, I'm always thoughtful," he joked, earning a small giggle from Emily.
Meanwhile, Lute was standing there, completely confused at what had just happened.
Adam named her after an instrument…? Or because it sounded like the title she would now have?
She looked down at the ground, slightly lost to herself, though she supposes it was a better name than being named after a reproductive organ…
It was Lute's first day as a lieutenant.
Just like her sisters, they wore their new uniforms and stood outside by the training grounds where they were supposed to meet Adam first thing in the 'morning'. They were meant to fly with him later over a section of heaven, in the south, and keep watch for any dangerous behavior.
Yet… he was nowhere in sight.
Lute stood there, her hands clasped tightly behind her back, her stance rigid and tense, while her sisters were just sitting on the ground with boredom.
"He's probably busy writing a new song for his next concert," Wildhair, formerly known as 664, said after a thoughtful moment. "He's an artist. Can't let those ideas just die out after all."
"Oh! I hope he makes a song about us," 662, now named Fury, said with a grin.
"He's probably still sleeping," Vaggie mumbled as she stood farthest from the group.
Lute rubbed the corner of her eyes before she tried sending a message to Adam through her halo, yet there was some disconnection or… he blocked her cause her halo didn't light up brighter to confirm he had received anything from her.
"Does this mean we get the day off?" Terminator, originally 665, asked curiously.
"No, none of us are taking the day off," Lute said sternly. She turned to Rebel. "Take them to the south section. I will meet you guys there with our captain."
And without another word, Lute shot up into the sky.
Eventually, she made her way towards the outskirts of the major city, where Adam was known to reside.
His house was large, with countless windows where you could see through the house, a large pool stood behind it. She landed in front of the main door, large and wooden, before knocking on it. Silence greeted her, and with a growl of impatience, she knocked again.
When no response came, she grabbed the handle before yanking it off the door, splinters flying in all directions as she barged inside.
Ignoring the wreckage she had caused, Lute made her way through the house, going up the stairs as she could sense Adam's presence.
She reached the master bedroom, and without a second to waste, she pushed the door open.
She found Adam sound asleep, his head nestled on a woman's soft breasts, her arm draped around his sleeping form. The woman was on her phone, reading through something before she looked at Lute's sudden intrusion with confusion. The sheets were haphazardly strewn about, and a pile of clothes lay discarded on the floor.
Lute's jaw clenched as she took in the sight before her. She couldn't believe he just added another reason why she couldn't respect him.
With a steely gaze, she looked at the woman. "Leave us," she commanded, her tone giving no space for argument.
The woman, who had some characteristics of an elf, did so, but with surprising calmness. She slipped out of bed, her hair down to her shoulders, swaying side to side. She placed a pillow under Adam's head and quickly dressed before she exited the room without a second glance. Lute approached the bed with a steely glare, but then quietly took in Adam's face, who was no longer wearing his famous mask. His skin was pallid, the opposite she imagined to the loud personality he had. Dark circles underscored his eyes, as if he barely slept.
For a moment, Lute felt something strange in her soul, felt like something ached, like a pang of concern.
Before she could understand the emotion stirring within her, Adam's tired eyes fluttered open. He stared at her tiredly for a moment before he scrambled to sit up, the covers hastily pulled up to his chest, his expression a mix of shock and confusion across his face.
"What the hell?" Adam blurted out, his voice cracking with surprise. "Lute? What the fuck are you doing here?"
Lute crossed her arms over her chest, her expression stern. "You overslept, Sir," she stated evenly.
A look of mild disgust crossed his face. "Eww, did you just call me 'Sir'?" he blurted out.
"As your lieutenant, it is my duty to address you with respect."
Adam wrinkled his nose, clearly uncomfortable with the formality. "Yeah, that ain't gonna fly with me," he said. "Just stick with Adam. Or Dickmaster, since, ya know, I'm the reason all humanity exists," he added with a smirk.
Lute stared at him, unsure how to react.
Adam took the moment to glance over at the clock on the small desk by his bed. "Are you kidding me? Why are you waking me up at 6:20!?" he exasperated.
"Must I remind you that you were supposed to meet your squad at the training grounds at 5 am sharp?"
"Hold on… I thought it was at 5 p.m…" Adam said with his eyebrows furrowing with confusion. "Seriously? Who the fuck schedules meetings that early?"
"Our shift starts first thing in the morning, every day."
Adam let out a groan, before flopping back onto the bed pulling the sheets over his head.
Lute took a deep breath, her patience stretched thin by his attitude. "Sir, the others are waiting to meet with us," she said.
Adam curled under the sheets and fell into a momentary silence. "Fine," he mumbled. "I'll meet you all in five hours."
Lute felt her eyebrow twitch involuntarily at his audacity. "Yeah, no, that's not how this works, sir," she retorted before she reached out and yanked the sheets off him, exposing him to the cold air of the room.
Adam let out a startled yelp, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment as he scrambled to cover himself with his wings, using them to cover his whole body. "What the hell?! Are you fucking crazy?!" he yelled at her now with annoyance, his head sticking out from underneath his feathers.
Lute met his gaze with a serious look. "If you don't get ready right now, I'll drag you out the way you are," she warned.
Adam's eyes widened in shock at the threat. "What the fuck?" he let out, and he looked completely confused as well. He looked at Lute as if she had grown a second head. "Are you serious? You wouldn't fuckin' dare, bitch. Do you know who the fuck I am?"
Lute's gaze darkened in silence, her chin tilting up at the challenge.
"Wait, wait, wait," Adam stammered, his voice tinged with panic, realizing that she was being serious. He scrambled off the bed, putting distance between himself and her. "Okay, okay, I'm up, see? I'm up!" He continued, his wings still covering his body.
"Good," she replied curtly as she grabbed the dark purple robes from the nearby chair and tossed them at Adam's face. "Now hurry up. Your squad is waiting."
Perched atop a boulder, under a pleasant shade, Adam wore a deep frown, visibly displayed by his mask somehow. His hand supported his chin, his wings hanging listlessly by his sides. Lute stood nearby, close to the edge of a cliff, her gaze overlooking a beach where 'winners' were relaxing or swimming in one of the large oceans provided by heaven.
"I'm soooo bored," Adam groaned in frustration.
Lute remained stoic, her attention fixed on the scene below, ignoring Adam.
"Seriously, aren't you bored too?" Adam turned to Lute, expecting a response. When none came, he let out an even louder groan, tossing his head back in exasperation.
"Great, now I'm hungry," Adam grumbled, checking the time from a wristwatch that was somewhat scratched up, on his right arm. "Aargh! It's only 7:12 am?! Should've just stayed in bed!"
Lute clenched her teeth, growing tired of his incessant whining.
"You know what would be cool? If you all wore badass masks too," he suggested.
"…"
"I just don't get it," Adam continued. "Why are we even here? It's a total waste of time. Heaven's never been in any real danger!" He paused, his frustration growing. "And trust me, I've been around here for thousands and thousands of years! Nothing ever happens!"
After a heavy sigh, Adam sprawled out on the boulder. Minutes passed in silence before he muttered, "Would you seriously have dragged me out of bed naked?"
Expecting a response from Lute, Adam grew impatient when none came. "Hey, I'm talking to you!" he snapped, irritation lacing his voice.
Still met with silence, Adam's frown deepened, and with a frustrated grunt, he turned away. "Fine, ignore me then, bitch."
Lute braced herself for another round of his whining; she was wondering if this was some sort of test of her patience or something by the other captains.
Minutes passed, yet she didn't hear a word from him. Of course, she was still waiting for him to ruin the peaceful quiet and was prepared to finally snap and tell him to shut up, but the silence persisted, stretching on for about half an hour.
Turning her head to check on him, Lute noticed Adam lying on his side, his back turned to her. Frowning, she approached him, only to find his eyes closed, deep in slumber. He had a wing draped protectively over his body like a blanket, its feathers gently rising and falling with each breath. His arm tucked under his head as a pillow, while his other arm lay relaxed at his side.
Annoyance prickled at her nerves, and she was about to shake him awake, but then she hesitated. The thought of having to endure more of his complaints held her back.
She decided to let him off the hook for the day, since she didn't want to continue listening to his whining, and returned to her position on the cliff, telling herself she would definitely be tougher on him the following day.
For the next month, Lute had to go to Adam's house and particularly drag him out of bed every morning - her sisters didn't seem to mind that he didn't meet with them at the spot they were supposed to, and he never put up a fight and would just groan with annoyance while they flew away from his home.
Luckily, she usually found him alone in bed, but if there was a woman there, it would be the same one as before, most of the time, that is. One time she stumbled upon him with two women nestled beside him in bed… now, that was a sight…
Lute had learned later, after some investigation and talking to Linep, who was the angel that would bring back recordings from Earth and fill Adam in on the 'new' things with humanity, that the woman, named Clara, who would sleep with Adam often, was one of Adam's event coordinators. According to Linep, she was a woman who kept to herself and would spend the nights with Adam to keep him 'happy' because according to her, it was better than him going around sleeping with multiple women and contracting herpes which, supposedly, Adam was terrified of getting. Though, Lute suspected there was a deeper motive behind the woman's decision to sleep with Adam.
Either way, for any women's reasons to sleep with Adam, Lute couldn't understand how such behavior was allowed in heaven.
Come to think of it, maybe it was…?
If his actions were truly forbidden, surely, he would have faced punishment by now. Yet he continued to live in heaven, with large golden wings, bearing the title of captain - even though he couldn't even defend himself - and permitted doing as he pleased.
Still, Lute despised his laziness. He would always sit around when they were supposed to be vigilant during their scheduled watches over human souls. He wouldn't bother listening during the weekly meetings with the other captains, he would avoid familiarizing himself with important policies, protocols, and procedures, he would find excuses to skip overseeing their training exercises, and worse off, he would always find a way to dodge the work out sessions he was meant to have with Lute.
She thought the most annoying moments with him was if other humans noticed his presence, they would either throw the rock-and-roll gesture at him with a grin or they would run over and clamored for his attention, they would reach out to touch him or snap a selfie. And Adam thrived in the attention, but Lute, with a firm hand on his arm, would guide him away from the throng of fans, and would do her best to keep him at a good distance from other human souls.
At least, his whining wasn't constant just like the first few days into his role, and she was pretty good at ignoring him, and in some way, she was acting more of the captain of the squad than he was. She found herself taking the lead, telling everyone what to do, while Adam's presence dwindled to a mere bystander, wearing a frown or a bored look on the side.
Lute wasn't going to lie, she was enjoying the situation she was in, telling others what to do. She was probably lucky that her sisters would listen to her. At least… most of the time they did…
And yeah, she was supposed to guide Adam to become a leader himself, but she strongly believed he was a lost cause. He didn't seem interested in being their Captain. So why not take charge herself for heaven's sake?
"Hey, sir, the girls and I were thinking if you could play us a song," Wildhair piped up one day during their return flight after a long shift.
Adam, who had barely said a word that day, turned towards Wildhair, a flicker of surprise at the unexpected request.
"Yeah, play us a song!" Crash chimed in, soaring above him.
Suppressing an exasperated sigh, Lute maintained her course ahead, trying to avoid rolling her eyes.
Though, she had to admit, she had expected her sisters to have asked him to play a song at least within the first week.
Adam took a moment before responding, a broad grin spreading across his masked face. "Consider it done, ladies," he declared, before plunging towards the forest below. The squad stopped in the air with confusion before following suit, save for Lute and Vaggie, who exchanged a glance of annoyance.
"I'm glad I'm not his lieutenant," Vaggie chuckled, teasing Lute.
With a resigned sigh, Lute reluctantly veered to where the group had gone, while Vaggie departed for home.
Lute found her sisters sitting on different branches, scattered around Adam, who stood on a thick branch. His hand conjured a golden electric guitar from thin air, something that no other human soul could do; only powerful angels could conjure powerful magic like that.
Her sisters had eager expressions on their faces as Adam settled into a comfortable position, a radiant smile adorning his features. His wings folded, pressed against his body on his sides, which now that Lute kind of realized he was the only one in heaven who would do such a thing and wasn't sure why he would.
She lowered herself down on a branch to join them, to stand across from him on a different tree.
** What's Up - 4 Non Blondes **
With a swift motion, Adam's fingers began to dance across the strings of his golden guitar, a melody now resonating through the forest.
"This here's one of my favorite songs. Was lucky to see the band play it live back on Earth," Adam told his squad. "Never got around to playin' it in one of my concerts here, so consider this a gift from me to all you lovely ladies," he tossed in with a cheeky wink, setting off a round of excited cheers from mostly everyone. This time, Lute couldn't help but roll her eyes.
"The song's called 'What's up',' by 4 Non Blondes," Adam said before he started to sing.
"Twenty-five years and my life is still
13 * (…. )
What's going on?
2 * (… -
- … what's going on?)"
All her sisters watched Adam intently, smiling as Adam's fingers kept playing the strings. A gentle, golden aura emanated from him, reaching out to each member, including Lute, who was now staring at him with utter confusion. She had never gone to any of his concerts, and the only encounters she'd had with his musical waves were unwelcoming disruptions while she slept or while she trained. Yet, in this moment, she sensed a strange stirring within her soul. She wasn't sure whether it originated from herself or from Adam, or if it came from the musical notes or from the words he was singing.
She didn't like it. She wanted to fly over and shatter his guitar.
"And I try, ~~
23 * (…)
What's going on?
4 * (.. -
- … what's going on?)"
The spell coming from his music was powerful, as it was able to affect them from within. There was no way he should be capable of having such an ability.
While trying not to panic, she glanced over at her sisters. Some had their eyes shut, nodding their heads to the music's rhythm, while others observed Adam with a yearning she couldn't seem to comprehend.
Turning back to Adam, she observed the golden radiance now enveloping him. His eyes were closed, a smile lingered on his masked face - one that was profoundly peaceful.
In that moment, Lute wondered: Was Adam more than just a mere human soul after all?
"Twenty-five ..
…
for a destination…"
In the dead of 'night', Lute landed just outside Adam's window. Sliding it open, she slipped into his room, where he lay sleeping.
She approached his bed with a cold gaze on him. He slept on his side, one wing extended while the other cradled his body beneath the sheets, and held a pillow around his arms.
Lute had been having a hard time sleeping for the past few days now and couldn't stop the words of the song he had played from replaying in her head nor forget the emotions that he had caused her to feel.
She didn't know why she couldn't forget them, why they clung to her like some parasite, but for some reason, it had stirred something in her. Made her feel angrier than usual, and… sad…?
But why would she be sad about?
With an abrupt motion, she yanked the covers away, starling him awake.
"I'm up, I'm up!" Adam exclaimed, shielding himself with his wings, his eyes widening up at Lute before he noticed the time on the clock next to him. "Lute, what the fuck?! It's not even 4:40 am!"
"Get up," she commanded icily, seizing his arm and, despite his larger size, she hauled him to his feet.
"What's your fuckin' problem?" Adam demanded, struggling against her increasingly firm grip, attempting to break free. "Ow, let go, you're fucking hurting me!" His tone shifted to one of confusion as realization slowly crept in. "You're... hurting me...?" he murmured incredulously, his gaze fixed on her fingers digging into his arm.
His words ignited a surge of anger within Lute, confirming to her that Adam was indeed spoiled. Then again, they were in heaven, and human souls were not meant to experience such pain. Pushing aside the last thought, she shoved him aside and thrust a white robe at him. "Get dressed."
Adam hesitated, but he did as he was told and slipped into his robe. She grabbed at his arm again and steered him towards the window before she pulled him up to the sky with her, ignoring his protests regarding his mask.
During their flight, he did not resist, probably because he was exhausted, and allowed her to guide him to a densely forested area adorned with vibrant, colorful, glowing mushrooms that cast a gentle glow around them.
As they landed, Adam's hair was completely disheveled, dark circles still prominent beneath his eyes, and he gazed at her with a tired and bored expression. Finally, Lute released her grip on him, and she watched as something lit up in his eyes with a hint of amusement.
"You know, if you wanted a quick fuck, you could have just asked," he said, a wry smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
Lute's expression twisted into one of disgust at Adam's remark. Without hesitation, she shoved him to the ground, causing him to land unceremoniously on his rear with a thud. He gaped up at her in confusion as she drew her spear, its sharp tip pointed menacingly at his chest.
"Only high-ranking angels possess the ability to wield magic," she began, her voice dangerously cold. "Or powerful sinners and demons. Yet here you are, a human soul in heaven, capable of doing it, enchanting us," she said through seething teeth.
Adam simply blinked.
"Now, tell me, by what means are you producing magic?" she demanded. "Have you struck a deal with a demon? What are you hiding?!" Her voice raised by each question and Adam continued to stare at her before he looked bored, lifting an eyebrow in response to her intensity.
"Seriously? You're flipping out on me 'cause I can use magic like the top-tier angels?" he retorted. "Um, hello, I'm fuckin' Adam. Of course I can use magic. I'm the fuckin' man. I'm not your average, lame ass human soul." He then shoved the spear point off to the side with a careless flick of his hand. "Jees, I should have named you danger tits instead if I knew you were gonna act this crazy."
Lute's brows furrowed with annoyance, still in a battle-ready stance as her grip on the spear tightened. "I was told no human soul should be capable of using magic."
"Look, darlin', I'm not sure what to tell ya," Adam began before he started to pick himself up. "But let's be real here. I'm just awesome. If my magic was such a big deal, wouldn't Sera and the others have said something by now?" he asked with a cocky grin. "Unless, of course, you think I've been getting away with it this whole time, and you think they're just too dense to notice, hmm?"
Lute's eyes widened in shock at the accusation.
"Anyway, no need to be jealous. Not everyone can be as badass as yours truly," Adam chuckled, hands on his hips.
Lute lowered her spear and loosened up her stance, glaring down at the ground.
"You know, you could learn to chill out a bit," Adam suggested casually. "You're always so freaking uptight. Must be all those rules and training stressing ya out."
Lute's hand tightened on her spear handle. "I don't want you to ever play music around me ever again," she stated coldly, bringing a frown out from Adam.
Adam was silent for a moment before he responded. "And why the hell not?"
Lute avoided eye contact with him, teeth clenching.
Adam cocked his head, eyeing her with curiosity. "Didn't vibe with the song I played a few days ago?"
"The music did something to me," Lute said coldly, hating to admit it. "And I hated it."
Adam raised an eyebrow, waiting for her to elaborate.
"The music… it made me feel… conflicted," she admitted. She then looked up at him with annoyance. "Angry yet unsettled."
Adam regarded her silently, as if he was deep in thought, which she wondered if he was even capable of doing so, before his eyes lit up with a mischievous sparkle in his eyes. "You know what, I gotta show you something," he said, and with a snap of his fingers, a portal materialized beside them. Lute stared at it in disbelief, unable to believe he had such ability and still managed to be late to meet up with the squad. Adam grinned at her with a cocky smile. "Yeah, pretty sweet, huh?"
Then he grabbed onto Lute's arm and pulled her through the portal alongside him. They emerged in a dimly lit room that resembled a home theater, the portal vanishing behind them. Lute scanned the room, her hand tightening on her spear and was ready to defend herself in case something or someone attacked her, unsure of their whereabouts.
"Where are we?" she inquired with a bit of suspicion.
"This is my home's personal theater room," Adam explained as he gestured round the room with pride. "Some fans of mine set it up for me about a year ago. Come on, you're gonna dig it," Adam urged, leading her to the front row of seats where she sat in one of them with reluctance.
Then Adam plopped next to her and then he shot a magical spell to some machines set up on the side that was hooked up to the monitor.
"Alright, you gotta trust me, okay?" he said. "I'm gonna show you the power of rock and roll," he said with amusement.
Lute immediately tried to get up, but Adam quickly snagged her arm. "Hey, hey, hey, you ain't going anywhere, babe," he said with amusement. "You rudely woke me up, so the least you can do is stick around and see what I've got in store for ya. Unless… you're scaaaared," he sang teasingly, earning him a glare.
Of course, she couldn't allow him to think she was some coward, so she just sat back down on the seat.
Adam released her and shot a magical spell at the display as it went live, and it seemed like it was a recording of some concert.
"Linep recorded some concerts for me while I was down on Earth and he still does it sometimes. People down there make some pretty cool music. It's sucks none of those musicians ever get to join us." Adam shook his head with disappointment. "Anyways, this is one's from a concert by the band Guns N' Roses and they're about to rock out with one of their awesome hits, 'Paradise City'."
** Paradise City - Gun N' Roses **
The music blared from the speakers set up around them, filling the room with its loud, clear sound.
"All right, Lute, don't overthink it, just vibe with the music, got it? Focus on the guitar strings and the beat of the drums for now. When the singer kicks in, feel how the other guitars join in. Let's start with that for now."
Adam nodded his head to the rhythm, flashing her a grin. "Watch how they play their instruments," he instructed, then began singing along with the vocalist in the video.
"Take me down to the Paradise City
5 * (…)"
"There, feel that guitar?" Adam's voice was filled with excitement and enthusiasm. "Yeah, that one! Fuck yah! Can't you feel its power? Don't fight it, Lute, just let it take ya." His gold eyes gleamed with delight.
Lute's gaze was fixed on the music video, noticing the way it zoomed in on the guitarist. The sound coming from it felt powerful, tugging at her soul. She felt mesmerized by how it sounded and then when the other guitarist joined, she felt her skin prickle with excitement.
"Just relax and soak in the music. No one's here judging ya," Adam urged. "Hear how they all play together? Sounds amazing, right? Now, I want you to start focusing on the lyrics. Take it easy, this ain't some fight."
Adam's body now swayed to the rhythm of the instruments.
"Now, nod your head the way I am," he said as he continued to move his own. "Come on, try it, it ain't gonna hurt. This is rock and roll, baby!" he proclaimed proudly before he joined in with the music once more.
"Just an urchin living …
4 * (…)"
"Woo! Fuck yeah! That's it, ya doing it!" he laughed as she just realized she was indeed moving her head just like he was. Even though she was a bit stiff as she did it.
"Rags and riches, …
10 * (…)"
"Keep it up, Lute, you're a natural!" Adam cheered with glee. "There's no turning back now, so just let it all out!"
A small smile tugged at her lips as her 'heart' moved with the music as he continued to sing loud and proud.
"Strapped in the chair …
11 * (…)"
Lute turned to see Adam had closed his eyes, still moving with the rhythm. It was strange. The music was loud and chaotic, yet it didn't drive her off. Was this really the sort of music Adam played during his concerts? Was this the music that her sisters and others in heaven enjoyed listening to? How did she manage to ignore it this whole time?
Now she had the urge to see Adam play the music live.
"So far away
19 * (…)
Oh, won't you please take me hoooooome?"
Adam rose to his feet, took Lute's hand, and pulled her up alongside him. "Keep your eyes on me," he instructed, adopting a stance as if wielding a guitar, despite having nothing in his hands, and moved his fingers fast as if he were playing strings. "Just follow my lead. Trust me, you're gonna love this," he urged, encouraging her with a grin.
Lute reluctantly attempted to replicate his stance, and moved her fingers the way he did. Then she tried to mimic his movements, but she was stiff while he appeared smooth and energetic.
"That's it!" Adam exclaimed with growing pride directed at her. "Feel the music, baby!" His fingers danced in the air with increasing speed, just like the lead guitarist in the music video. Then, as if summoned by the melody itself, the radiant golden aura enveloped him once more, like last time.
Lute gazed at him in awe now, feeling his magical essence reaching out to brush against her before she finally accepted it inside of her. This time, instead of feeling troubled, she was filled with a sense of peace and freedom she had never experienced before.
And as Adam sang along with the lyrics, playing his imaginary guitar with as much enthusiasm as if he held a real one, he threw his head back as his wings shot out wide.
Without realizing it, she surrendered herself to her senses and began moving like Adam, her smile growing with excitement. Her fingers now danced effortlessly through the air by the way she felt the rhythm. With each beat, she felt the surge of energy coursing through her, reminiscent of the thrill of battle, but even better.
In perfect sync, she bobbed her head energetically, matching Adam's. As they faced each other, they moved as one, adding twists and turns as they danced. Then they jumped on the chairs in the room like no one's business.
Caught in the moment, Lute couldn't tear her gaze away from him. The glow emanating from him, combined with his infectious smile directed at her, left her thinking he was the most beautiful soul she had ever seen in her entire existence.
Truth be told, she wanted this moment to never end. She wanted to experience this with Adam for as long as they both existed. Just like the lyrics of the song, she wished for him to take her to the Paradise city along with him.
And never let her go…
After Notes
My mission as well is to have peeps experience more rock music :3, hahaha, apparently based on how I've been including them. Of course I feel including rock is important cause it means a lot to Adam
Current Timeline based on events that have taken place:
1980 - Lute created
1985 - Adam goes to Earth
1997 - Adam returns to Heaven
2002 - Adam and Lute meet
So, in my version here, warrior angels like Lute are made as adults, they got no childhoods : o. They are meant to defend , protect, fight. They are different for sure than humans
Thank you so much for the comments/kudos/reviews/feedback/and love :' ), especially all those kind words in archive of our own and saw a bit more too in this website, so thank you so much : ). If anyone wants to leave a review even in a different language that's okay, i will still read it and appreciate : D. I will do my best to write the next chapter before I head out of state for a week x.x. Well, either a long chapter, or two medium sized ones : o. Should be easier to write since I'm not struggling writing the scenes to fit music playing, hahaha x.x . Please don't forget to leave a kudo in archive of our own : ), even as a guest you can leave one : )
Please let me know what you thought of the scenes, what you thought of the music choices, what you thought of Lute and Adam's scenes : ). Adam wasnt' much of a jerk with her earlier for certain reasons which will be revealed later in the story ;3
And yes, the tag in this story does include adamxlute ~