I am not the first to write an "Opera as Iruma's mom" fic, but I'm taking a completely different angle than the only other fic I'm aware of. This story is also not leaving me alone to write Blood Drops, so -frustrated hand wave- here we go.

TW: There will be several possibly triggering situations. Kidnapping, forced physical restraint, non-consensual medical procedures, forced pregnancy, lack of empathy, blood, forced child/parent separation, day-specific depression/ptsd.

It won't be all dark and horrible, but it may be hard for some individuals to get through parts of the story, though I don't intend to write anything overly graphic/grotesque. It should still land somewhere within canon-typical depictions.
Read at your own discretion.

xXx-xXx-diminish-xXx-xXx

The last thing they'd been aware of, before awakening on an ice cold slab of metal with multiple restraints binding them down, was preparing the carriage to return home with their weekly supply of various groceries. Their head felt fuzzy, as alarm bells beat in time with the sure-migraine that whatever spell or drug had been used to numb their body and put them to sleep was still well in effect.

Their mouth was dry when they glanced down, to realize that yes, their lower half was in fact quite colder than the rest of them for a reason, as bile threatened to choke them. Their heart sped up as their eyes refused to fully focus, fuzzy vision glancing around the room as two blue haired individuals with too-white teeth smiled ghoulishly from a corner of the room and spoke lowly between themselves.

Their ears were ringing as sound was muffled, but they knew full well that those two were making some sort of derogatory commentary of their physical person, and they desperately wished to rip out their throats and bathe in their blood for whatever the fuck was going on.

Two more individuals came in, one moved with red gleaming eyes and a vile smirk closer to their body as they spoke with a predatory jaunt in their step and a laugh behind their blurred words. A yellow haired one sauntered to the two blue ones, and the moment they turned away a white cloth covered their face to blind them as they felt something cold-

Their vision bled red as they ground their teeth. Their claws dug into their palms to force themselves out of the spell-drug induced haze.

They would coat the walls in red-!

They lost themselves to their Wickedness in a Stress induced blur that left their memory confused and muted.

More spells and curses had been layered one after another than could be immediately counted.

When they became aware again, soaked in blood and other questionable substances with their lower half covered by a short strip of fabric-

Border Patrol was not happy with them for killing more than ten individuals who had been on their wanted and missing list.

The blond and blue ones were not among them, and their stomach burned in hatred that they had not obtained true revenge. However, restrained as they were by the authorities while a sack-cloth was placed over their head, they surrendered themselves for questioning.

Their world fell into black again, as their body refused to work any longer under the weight of magic and foreign substances still running amok in their veins.

Time was a strange thing- they were either awake or they were not.

They thought they had been restrained again, but every last one of their nerve-endings were on fire as their muscles refused to work. All they could do was stare emptily at the ceiling above them as their throat burned as though they'd swallowed a handful of thorns and thistles.

"Opera."

They carefully shifted their gaze to their Master and Lord. They tried to speak, but nothing but dry air passed their lips as their damaged vocal chords let them know that was not a good idea. However, their Master understood as he observed them with a pitying ache that only he could muster for them. The previous Security Devil of the Missing King was a bit of a bleeding heart compared to numerous others.

He placed a gentle hand on their head as he moved sweat-laced black bangs away from their eyes, "I'm sorry, Opera."

What was he sorry for? They were the one who had failed to guard themselves as to not be caught by those who would hope to shame their Master.

Sullivan sighed softly as a glint of anger flashed over his otherwise kind gaze, "There was an attempt by the medical staff to collect internal samples to help them investigate what had been done to you. It went… poorly. I could hear your screams several halls away."

Ah. So that was why they'd eviscerated their vocal chords and felt like they'd been tossed through fire and spurs. Whatever had been done to them, the perpetrators had ensured it could not be undone.

They swallowed dry air thickly and coughed lightly. The lingering taste of old blood coated their mouth, making the dryness all-the-more unpleasant.

Sullivan ran his hand over their head, "When you believe yourself capable, there is a small shower nearby for you to clean up in, and a spare set of clothes so that we may leave. You have been here for more than sixty-seven hours, and we will receive further information in a day or two about your condition."

Opera closed their eyes to breathe for a moment. They wanted out of this place, but their strength was lacking. Several miserable looking bruises where they'd been blatantly restrained ached bone-deep, even though they couldn't remember anything.

They vaguely thought something blue and yellow were involved, but the information skittered away. Memory altering Magic was well at work and refused to leave them be until they stopped trying to dig up what they'd lost.

Opera sighed before carefully pushing themselves up as Sullivan aided them.

Certainly, their Master knew of their unique disposition along with their personal doctor, but for now they would have to rely on their Master for care despite the thin sheet that had separated their nudity from being seen by others. It didn't matter. They took a spartan three minute shower, threw on the horrible clothes that Border Patrol was nice enough to lend them, and forced themself to stand straight next to their Lord.

Sullivan huffed lightly, "You don't need to force yourself so much Opera, it's clear that you can barely stand."

Opera gave him a harsh glare in rebuke, as if to say, 'And yet I stand, and refuse to bow to the weakness of my body.'

Sullivan shook his head as he lent his hand, "I was not insinuating that you are weak Opera. You are a rank Tet (9), and no one would dare to say so."

Opera rolled their eyes as they took their Master's offered hand. They would not slap the hand that they protected, and protected them in turn. Their entire Trust was in this Great Hero. Their blood had been shed, and they knew Sullivan was restraining himself for their sake.

They more than likely wouldn't be able to leave this place, if it were not for Sullivan's influence. They were certain of it.

Opera did their best to walk steadily, but their vision kept blurring at the edges. Speckles of black would fade in and out, but they were determined. Their pride could very well kill them, but no one could really blame them, as a passing blur of tall black clicked their tongue in disgust as they passed.

Opera nearly spun and launched themselves at the offender, but Sullivan gripped their hand and pressed his black aura upon them to comply.

"Ignore it, Opera."

They didn't want to.

But they had lost the ability to have what they wanted the moment they'd been captured by Originating Hands.

xXx-xXx-diminish-xXx-xXx

Sullivan forced them to rest while he took care of their usual chores.

"I learned something had happened when our usual butcher noted our carriage left in the square, despite the late hour and lack of people. I had been worrying for some time when I received his phone call." Opera huffed lightly as they sat loosely on the couch as a strangeness had settled into their body. They were tired, but after the strain of returning home, they'd been forced into five days of bedrest by their doctor. He was a worry-wart, but they knew it was warranted. Their muscles felt like jelly, and they could barely walk around the house.

Whatever drug had been used on them, it had ruined their body quite thoroughly.

Sullivan shook his head as he brought a glass of questionable substance to their lips with a straw. Opera obeyed the silent command and drank, it was bitter with the touch of medicine, but it had the bite of essential vitamins that their body was desperate for. "Of course I began my search, however Border Patrol swiftly became involved. There were signs something-someone had crossed over, but whatever it was, had already returned and the traces were muddled by a mix of other factors. We then found you soaked in blood and well. They had questioned you, and I had done my best to provide what aid I could when you started screaming. By the time I arrived your voice finally gave out and you vomited blood as several medical personnel restrained you. It was quite the sight."

That was to say, their Master had been scared for them. They gave him an apologetic look, and Sullivan shook his head, "None of that. We will find out what was done to you- you are still charged with far too many curses buzzing along your skin. It's been many centuries since I've felt the burn of malicious magic so potent that it can be touched. You are strong Opera. If you were not, you would have died from the physical and psychological strain of it."

Opera didn't feel strong, but they couldn't say anything otherwise, because a bitter part of them knew he was correct in his assessment.

They couldn't wait to get back to their feet and return to some sense of normalcy. They were unused to being aided, having been separated from their biological family for nearly half a century by now. They'd proven themselves worthy of service to their Lord by the age of eleven, and had not contacted their family since, so being looked after was a foreign concept.

They were a servant and the proof of their Master's strength, so to be incapable of taking care of themselves grated on their nerves.

The small mercy they reluctantly held onto, was the fact that their Lord had once Served himself.

It was unheard of, for a Security Devil to strike out on their own, separate from their Master, and become a Lord themselves.

But their Lord was special, and they knew a small truth about Lord Sullivan.

He was still serving his Missing King, there was simply no way to prove it.

xXx-xXx-diminish-xXx-xXx

It was thirteen days after their capture that Azazel Henri arrived at their home with information.

"We found a vial of matching genetic material that had been retrieved from your person at the facility of your capture."

Opera raised an eyebrow in question, their throat still mending from the abuse it'd suffered.

Sullivan leaned forward, his hands clasped beneath his chin as a serious glint reflected off his glasses, his amethyst eyes boring into the younger demon before them. Henri ran a quick finger beneath his choker to mentally prepare himself for what he was about to say, "It was human in nature."

Opera frowned. The barely older demon was doing a terrible job of this. Opera knew something was off about their body- they had known it since they arrived back home. They were far too in-tune with their state of being to have not noticed that their body was beginning to accommodate somethingsomeone else.

It was a bare-boned relief they had not been-

Their throat closed up in disgust at the thought of flesh against flesh and swiftly pulled their attention to the vase of dying flowers they needed to replace behind Henri.

Sullivan narrowed his eyes, "And that means what exactly?"

Henri clasped his hands on top of the table in a show of decent restraint, "After what happened in our initial attempt to get samples, there isn't much we can do but wait and see if anything comes of it. However, we were able to retrieve samples of the drug that had been used on your Security Devil, and we found a list of possible curses and spells that were used on them. We are working on deciphering just how many were layered upon Opera, but they are far too volatile to attempt to remove. They were interwoven into each other so thoroughly that if one is removed, the others will act to crush Opera's heart and kill them in an agonizing instant."

Lovely. Just what they wanted to hear.

They had figured this out for themselves already, seeing as they were living with the weight of such vile Magic. Sullivan himself had also made note of the absurd amount of Magic used on them to force them into whatever was happening. Their compliance was not expected, but demanded.

"We also found a contract. It was partially damaged, but the binding Magic was present along with two signatures in human blood. We can't read their writing, but it is most certainly the names of the two possible entities that had illegally crossed over. Our investigation is still, otherwise, ongoing."

Opera and Sullivan nodded, and after some further pointless discussion, the Head of Border Control excused himself and made his way out the door.

Opera stood still next to their Lord for a long oppressive moment, as they allowed themselves to let disgust coat the back of their throat. They swiftly turned and made their way towards the kitchen to prepare dinner and begin making plans for themselves to ensure their wellbeing.

"Opera." They paused in their step and waited. "...Everything will be alright."

But it wouldn't be, and they would not indulge in weak reassurance.

They swiftly walked away from the silence, as if it wouldn't press down upon them and follow.

xXx-xXx-diminish-xXx-xXx

It was at six weeks after the incident that Opera found themselves awake in the middle of the night, nauseous, and their stomach grumbling in hunger for the third time in a row.

The fact they felt ill from hunger annoyed them to no end. It wasn't enough that their body felt horribly off, that certain garments weren't fitting as they were intended and pressing in uncomfortably.

No. Oh no. They had to wake up because they were hungry.

They laid there and stewed in their annoyance as they glared at the ceiling above them. Their lower back kind of ached, but that was negligible. They had rules about leaving food for waking hours. One did not snack in the middle of the night.

Their stomach protested with another loud grumble that made them press their lips closed and swallow thickly.

They had dealt with this three nights in a row and refused to get up and give in. They'd barely slept, and honestly Sullivan had pissed them off further by lightening their duties.

'You look ready for a Wicked Phase, Opera. Rest.'

They didn't want to rest. They wanted to live their lives like normal, before this bullshit had happened to them.

They ground their teeth in frustration before pushing themselves up and out of bed. Maybe taking a walk would let them ignore how hungry they were, and how sick it was making them feel.

Inevitably, as if their brain had been hijacked and shut off, they found themselves in the kitchen.

They glanced around in partial confusion. This was the last place they'd wanted to end up, but maybe a glass of water would be fine. Water was acceptable.

They nearly threw up after the first sip and barely managed to keep themselves from slamming the glass onto the counter as they bent forward into the sink panting.

Water wasn't good enough?

They wouldn't cry. They absolutely- they absolutely would. Not. Cry. Over. Water.

Opera let the worst of the nausea pass. It was relentless, but it eventually settled into something manageable.

They straightened themselves up and stared out the kitchen window in a slight daze.

Opera's eyes slowly dragged themselves to the snack cupboard. They didn't allow much of it, ensuring their own health as well as their Lord's, but in that moment they regretted their staunch rules about snacks and treats terribly.

Sure, they were taking supplements- they had ordered them in the day after they'd returned home on pure whimsy and partial suspicion.

They'd read books. They'd researched.

They were not prepared to have the sort of morning sickness that involved eating more.

Opera sighed miserably before allowing temptation to rule for the sake of feeling better, as well as sleep, and pulled out a small bag of cookies and numbly chewed on it.

It was the best damn thing they'd had all day, and as they popped a second one in their mouth, the horrible sickness eased off as a new pleasure surged through their body. Sweets are amazing.

They were elated as each bite abated the bottomless nauseating hunger they felt. Guilt and frustration would come later- they were in bliss as they made their way through a week's worth of cookies.

They sighed softly after their small feast in satisfaction and leaned back against the kitchen counter. Their belly was full and they felt amazing and they couldn't help but rub their stomach warmly. Is this better now? Are you satisfied you little gremlin?

They closed their eyes tiredly as a slow realization crept upon them.

They were… they were finally going to recognize this for what it was, weren't they? That they were…

They were going to eventually give birth.

The thought was terrifying, they had never planned to ever go through this sort of scenario. The revulsion from physical intimacy was far too great to even contemplate such a notion. Yet, here they were.

Opera opened their eyes and glanced around at the mess they'd made before they sighed softly and made swift work of cleaning up after themselves. They drank some of the lukewarm water they'd abandoned with success, much to their chagrin that now water was fine instead of earlier.

They made their way back to their bed, and come morning, they'd need to seek out different ways to appease their child so that they weren't only eating sweets.

…And perhaps they should finally admit to the worst part of all.

They needed help, and there were only two demons in Babyls, or perhaps the entirety of the Netherworld they could trust to aid them.

They sighed softly and curled up on their side as sleep swiftly swept them into its wonderful embrace.

xXx-xXx-diminish-xXx-xXx

I need to speak with you and Kalego.

Shichirou stared at the text message from his senpai as a chill ran down his spine.

The behavior wasn't normal for Opera in the slightest, but with their sporadic appearances on school grounds over the past few weeks after an incident involving Border Patrol, he couldn't help but feel the inevitability of it.

At the end of the day, Opera was Lord Sullivan's Security Devil, and if their enemies found them to be weak, then the treasures of Babyls were in danger- and that was unacceptable.

The three of them had (reluctantly) worked far too hard to bring the reputation of Babyls up into a school of high prestige to have their work threatened now.

Shichirou also knew that Opera had only messaged him knowing full-well Kalego would refuse to acknowledge a text from them and sighed at being made into the middle-man. He sent a swift message to Kalego with a time and to meet in the History Prep Room- his office, and responded to Opera with the same information.

Shichirou busied himself with preparing a special blend of tea to calm nerves as well as to collect a small assortment of snacks. He wasn't much of a host, but Opera wouldn't request a meeting unless it was important.

He couldn't help the creeping worry and dread that accompanied his thoughts, either.

There was a precise knock thirty minutes before the designated time, and Shichirou was unsurprised to find Opera standing there. He moved aside as his senpai let themselves in and glanced around with an appraising eye, "Quite the nest you've made for yourself, Balam-kun." Their voice was a little deeper, softer, and scratchier than he was used to.

Shichirou fiddled with his mask as he closed the door, "Ah… yes, I suppose so."

Opera glanced back at him, "It's pleasant."

…That made him even more worried as he blurted an intrusive thought. "Are you dying?"

Opera shifted to face him with the most dead-pan look that it defeated every other expression they'd ever laid on him as he flushed with embarrassment, "Ah- I apologize! I don't know what came over me!" Shichirou couldn't help but try and laugh off the nerves that sprang up and rattled his sensibilities. Really. Was it that far fetched for Opera to want to chat with them?

He ignored the silent voice screaming in the back of his head that was screaming Yes It Was!

Opera took their time to investigate his office as he fiddled with his mask, observing whether they were having any notable issues with mobility as well as other possible health issues.

He frowned as something about their silhouette seemed off-

A single sharp knock distracted him as he turned and went towards the door, "Kalego-kun?"

"Nn."

Shichirou opened the door for his friend and swiftly shut it behind him, as Kalego immediately jerked back at the sight of Opera and glanced at the door for escape. He glowered at Shichirou's unrepentant stare and glowered as his friend coaxed him towards the three arranged seats and small table he'd prepared for this meeting. Kalego huffed and moved ahead of him, dropping down into a seat with his arms crossed as he gave him and Opera a cold stare. "I have papers to grade."

Opera sniffed as they settled themselves in the outermost seat, strangely conscious of how they were sitting as they settled in a particularly straight backed manner. There was a tenseness, as it became more than clear to the Gargoyle of Babyls that Opera wanted as little to do with whatever was going on as Kalego.

Opera took a long sip of their tea before addressing him, "Are your student's papers more important than their safety?"

Kalego's irritation evaporated as he gave his senpai his full attention. "What exactly do you mean by that, Opera-senpai?" Shichirou fiddled with his mask for another moment before taking it off and setting it aside in a show of removing personal distractions.

Opera avoided their gaze as an irritable and dark expression broadcast their struggle to collect- or moreso, to speak their thoughts. "...As you well know, something happened to me a little over a month ago." The two nodded as they continued, "I was captured by criminals. Seemingly those that had returned to Origin. I was involved in an… experiment, I suppose." They met Shichirou's gaze before moving to Kalego, "I fear they hoped that, in attacking and… weakening my disposition, they would then perhaps believe themselves to have an upper hand on one of the three greats, and in that same token, to say that Babyls is a place unfit for the responsibility of raising up strong demons."

Kalego grit his teeth, nearly grinding them at the absolute absurdity of that thought. The logic was sound- if Lord Sullivan's personal Security Devil could be so easily snatched in broad daylight and subdued, no one at Babyls was safe or capable.

It was a blatant attack upon the Chairdemon's authority and competence.

Shichirou took a long contemplative sip of his tea before sighing internally as he set down his cup, "So what is it that you need from us, Opera-senpai? To raise our Rank?"

Opera was quiet for a long moment. Long enough that it became oppressively uncomfortable. The two younger demons couldn't help but shift uncomfortably before Opera audibly sighed and seemed to surrender to whatever internal battle they were fighting. "No. While it wouldn't be a bad thing to attempt to reach my same Rank, that isn't… It's not exactly what the school, or… or what I myself need."

Opera wasn't looking at them again, and Shichirou felt something… buzz at the edge of his senses. Opera wasn't triggering Buzzer, but something about them was.

Shichirou hadn't realized he'd straightened up until Opera's eyes met his.

"I'm pregnant."

Kalego visibly flinched back at those words, while Shichirou couldn't help but almost laugh at the absurdity of it. Opera glared with their fangs bare at Kalego's reaction as they blatantly just barely held themselves back from beating the ever living shit out of him for his reaction, and instead leaned forward with an almost manic heated whisper, "Do you think for one second that-"

Shichirou stood and pressed a hand against Opera's hunched shoulder, forcing them back into their seat as their tail puffed out in agitation. They glared up at him through black bangs, more than ready to bite him as he tried to diffuse the situation, "You'll have to excuse Kalego-kun, Senpai, it's just. It's a bit much to take in the thought that you're capable of…" He couldn't help but glance away for a second in awkward contemplation, "Birth."

Opera shifted their gaze to the hand he had on their shoulder and pulled back before Shichirou settled back into his seat.

Kalego straightened out his overcoat before taking a long scalding sip of his tea before harshly setting his cup down. "I'm too sober for this." It was a grumbling complaint, but Shichirou couldn't help but agree with his sentiment.

The situation seemed horribly unrealistic and downright scandalous.

Opera was clearly regretting their choice to confide this world-shattering news on them, so Shichirou cut in before anything else could be said to make matters worse. "How can I help you, Opera-senpai?"

There was a reason they were asking for their help specifically. Shichirou could already piece a number of reasons why together.

"First, I need someone to make others believe I'm regularly around, to hide the fact that I'm…" They motioned with their hand over their stomach. "I have no desire for the enemy to be aware that their plan worked, or to get any ideas that they should attempt this again."

Kalego sighed heavily. He snapped his fingers, and he gave them a bored empty look with his perfect Transform into Opera's (previously) normal appearance.

Opera stood and got close to him, a hand to their chin as they looked him over, looking for any flaw that could potentially give him away. They nodded before pulling back, "Perfect. Now what will you do if someone speaks to you?"

The voice was a little trickier, but Kalego-Opera rolled his eyes and responded, "I'm perfectly capable of that much as well."

It was difficult for one to hear their own voice, but Shichirou straightened with a nod of approval, "It's a perfect match, Kalego-kun!"

Opera gave him a small playful smirk, "So you have been paying close attention to me."

Kalego-Opera glared at them before releasing Transform and responding gruffly, "Only because I do my best to avoid you."

Opera snickered as they settled back into their seat, unconsciously swiping three different cookies before looking at them in slight confusion before sighing and biting into one.

Shichirou paused at that before humming, "Is there anything else?"

Opera chewed methodically for a moment before looking at him, "This may sound unreasonable, but I believe you are capable enough for the task. I am… in need of a doctor."

Shichirou furrowed his brow, "...Me? I don't mean any insult, but… why?"

Opera turned their gaze away from the two of them as they began to slowly eat their second cookie. Finally they met his gaze again, "The other party was... human."

If Shichirou had been holding a cup he'd have dropped it, while Kalego froze with his hand a mere centimeter away from picking up his own. Kalego pulled back from his cup, wondering if Opera had lost their mind, as Shichirou felt light headed.

"A… a human?!" Shichirou stood, barely having the mind to keep his voice low as excitement rushed in his veins, "You- a human?! A real live human?!"

Opera shoved the third cookie into their mouth and nodded silently. Really, there wasn't anything else they could say about it.

Shichirou plopped back into his seat dazed, "Humans… humans are real..!? I was- I was right!?" He turned to them in near excitement before a crippling thought struck him. He felt breathless for a moment before he took in a measured breath of air, "Humans- we're- we're compatible with humans?"

Opera shrugged as they brushed away crumbs from their lap, "If we both make it, it would seem as much."

Shichirou bent forward at the implication. Demons… demons considered humans to be food! If… if they were compatible with them, what in the world did that mean?! Were they… were they mindless cannibals then?!

Opera audibly sighed, "Your thoughts are getting ahead of you, Balam-kun."

Shichirou pulled himself up with a jolt, "But Opera-senpai!"

Opera nodded, "I know, but I'm not done yet."

Shichirou pulled back and set his hands in his lap, "I- my apologies."

Opera closed their eyes in thought, ignoring them for a moment before looking between them, "I haven't felt rested since before this started. I'm… exhausted, and I don't see it getting better as this continues."

Kalego crossed his arms over his chest with white knuckles and a deep set frown.

Shichirou observed them for a long moment. He… he could tell that Opera's Mana wasn't quite... right. It should be strong and steady, and instead it was lacking and uneven.

He spoke without thinking, "You need a partner."

Opera nodded at his assessment, and Shichirou exhaled softly as he allowed himself to sink back into his seat.

It was… entirely reasonable, even if part of him felt the complete opposite. Demons were selfish first, but children were hard-fought precious gifts.

Shichirou understood the underlying plea. Opera needed a partner to help their Mana reserves. Birth-capable demons always kept close to a partner for protection and strength. Child-bearing was an exhausting process- and unfortunately, the child always took precedence when it came to Mana use.

Opera was alone in this, though he allowed himself to question them, as he felt it was his right to do so before agreeing to anything. "Did the Chairdemon refuse to help you?"

Opera gave him a scandalized look, "Lord Sullivan is my Master. In what world could I ever ask him, a man that I respect as an Elder, to act as a Mana partner in this? I'm supposed to protect him, not the other way around."

Shichirou nodded as he ran a hand through his hair. He figured as much, but needed the verbal reassurance of their reasoning. Honestly, it wasn't that hard to see- Even the Head of Lust who had recently given birth had relied on the majority of her beloved Lust Group to help her through her pregnancy.

It was a little disconcerting to realize Opera trusted him and Kalego exclusively enough to even ask.

Shichirou relented, "I would be happy to assist you in what ways I can, Opera-senpai."

Opera's eyes widened, as if they had fully expected to be rejected before they visibly relaxed. "...Thank you, Shichirou-kun."

Shichirou glanced away from them as an odd embarrassment warmed his chest. He desperately wanted to put his mask back on, but chose instead to take a sip of his cooled tea. He couldn't help the thrill of excitement- the thought that humans were real, and that not only were they real, but Opera-senpai would possibly be giving birth to the first half-

His thoughts shuddered to a stop. Possibly the first half human-demon..?

Kalego was quiet, his thoughts were a bit more silent than Shichirou's- perhaps even static as he absorbed the information Opera had dropped on them.

The Guard Dog of Babyls knew he would regret this, but he knew he'd regret it either way.

It was simply a matter of which regret was more livable than the other, as Keroberos chuffed in laughter in the back of his mind. "...I will help as well."

Opera turned to him in surprise, as Shichirou gave his friend an appraising look. Kalego huffed, "Shichirou has his own responsibilities and classes. If you are in need of aid while he is busy… I'll… help."

Kalego turned away from them as he sipped his tea. He knew the both of them were shocked, but really. What the hell were they thinking?! It would be suspicious if Shichirou were meeting someone alone in his office all the time, or was constantly unavailable. They needed variables to prevent discernable patterns.

Honestly.

The three of them had built Babyls up from the chaotic foundations his lazy-ass Uncle had left behind.

He would ensure Order through any means necessary, and his own comfort, his Mana, were small things to sacrifice for the continued safety of his school's reputation.

Kalego would not be the laughing stock of the Naberius name. That was a promise.

xXx-xXx-fortify-xXx-xXx

A/N: Let me know if you enjoyed it!