I want to thank LunaReader for beta reading this story : ), you're always a great support 3br /
Thank you ZoomsBatty for joining the team : D, you're a great editor 3, and glad you got background on child development ;3
Wanted to let readers know I've worked at a full day care center for 2.5 years, took care of 2.5-5 year olds. I also read books concerning childhood development (mostly to help me at my job) and I got an obsession with psychology for now two decades. So yeah, I'm exciting to continue this story 'cause it's gonna be a challenge with someone like Adam, who was never a kid, yet now is one with many years of trauma and issues. So... yeah, there will be tons of fluff, funny scenes but also angsty ones since Adam has a lot of issues to deal with, and the angels like Sera have to learn how to be the parent they should have been in the first place : )
This chapter will be a bit angsty, but slowly things will get better. Especially when certain charcs will make sure things start going well for little Adam : )
Now, for those who have not read hope in hell, i added scenes to this story in the beginning under the "The Past" section. You gotta read those pieces to get to know Adam's background : ), and understand why he is the way he is.
For those who have read Hope In Hell, you can skip "The Past" part and jump down to the "The Present"
Chapter 2
I drew Adam for this fic : ). I drew another outfit for him but I'll post that up in chapter 3. This is his outfit later in this chapter
The Past
(For those who have not read Hope In Hell, for sure read please : ))
(If you read Hope In Hell, skip to the Present section)
Two bare looking figures stood face to face, their eyes meeting in confusion as a mass of greenery surrounded them. They found themselves with no memories to rely on, leaving them unable to understand who they were or their predicament.
However, as they continued to gaze at each other, a strange sensation washed over them; they felt a strong bond to one another, a connection that seemed to transcend anything else. Small smiles warmed their way on their lips and they both felt the deep urge to move closer to one another, hold each other, and never let go.
Then gentle lights shimmered around them, illuminating their surroundings. From the radiant glows emerged beings that looked different to them. The creatures had wings sticking on their backs and a glowing ring hovered over their heads.
They sang around the two confused figures. During their enchanting melody, the beings gave them their names, Adam, and Lilith. Told them they were human, created by them from dust, blessed to exist in their realms.
Adam and Lilith were in awe as they continued to learn who the creatures were, angels, they said, about their home, Garden of Eden, and about the lives given to them.
The angels told them they were married; they were husband and wife, and explained to them what it all meant, what they should do to create more of 'them'.
Truth be told, Adam and Lilith didn't understand why the angels wanted them to reproduce more humans. Instead, they were busy laughing as they splashed water on one another, climbing trees, holding one another as they lay on the soft grass, and learning more about their home. Better yet, they both enjoyed singing, so they would spend a lot of their time making up songs together of anything that came up in their minds.
For years they were happy, but, many times, Adam took charge, leaving Lilith for her voice to be heard more.
Adam wasn't sure how things ended up the way they did, but the other day, he was telling Lilith with excitement how they should go to the lake again and how they should explore what laid at the bottom. But Lilith had merely shaken her head and walked away without a word, disappearing from his sight since.
But, believing she would return, he waited patiently for her.
And waited and waited by a tree.
A couple of angels appeared by Adam and told him how they will create a new human for him who will obey his every word as they will be created directly from him. With a gentle touch, one angel reached into Adam's chest, a warm light emanating from within him as they extracted a replica of one of his ribs, causing him no discomfort.
He stared with confusion, then suddenly a stunning woman with dark features appeared before him, a radiant smile etched on her face before she offered a bow from her head.
Adam lay on a bed of flowers, their delicate petals caressing his skin. Above him, a tree provided shade for him from the sun. A gentle breeze danced through the leaves, carrying with it the sweet scent of blossoms for a moment, when suddenly, a strange sensation stirred within him. It was a sensation he had never experienced before, unsettling, like a whisper of unease brushing against his soul.
Confused, he opened his eyes and sat up. His gaze sweeping across the landscape before he looked up to notice the sky now bore a soft crimson color instead of the beautiful azure.
His heart started to beat fast, a disconcerting rhythm that thudded against his chest, and a knot tightened in his stomach.
Adam wasn't sure what was going on with him, but he rose to his feet and ran off to look for Eve, hoping she could help him with whatever was troubling him.
He eventually found her, kneeling upon the soft earth, her gaze fixated upon a red fruit with a single bite taken from its flesh. She wasn't alone, though. Lilith, who he hadn't seen in so long, stood near her. A pang of longing mingled with an inexplicable ache when he saw her. Then he noticed the sight of an angel, one he was unfamiliar with - he had met other angels in the past who had visited him.
The angel had a soft smile etched on his face as he watched Eve indulged in another bite; the sky taking a darker shade of red.
A disquieting sensation gnawed at Adam. Unease settled within him. His brow furrowed, his hand instinctively reaching for his chest as his heartbeat quickened with each bite taken by Eve. He felt the urge to knock the apple from Eve's hands, and he wasn't sure why.
"I… feel it," Lilith murmured to the angel, her voice barely above a whisper. "You did it. We are all free." She gave the angel a tender smile before she took the angel's hands. The angel returned the expression, but with more adoration.
However, Adam didn't share their feelings. Something stirred within him, something dark, and he glared at the angel across from him.
"What have you done…?" a voice suddenly spoke from above and for a moment there, Adam couldn't help but feel that he couldn't breathe.
Adam felt confused and afraid as he stood there before a pair of towering, golden gates.
He struggled to understand if he was in some sort of dream or figure out how he got there. Better yet, he wanted to know why golden wings seemed to be attached to his back as well.
The last thing he could recall was lying in a cave, Eve's worried face hovering above him, as she tried to soothe the fever that was consuming him with wet leaves on top of his body. His children, who he barely knew since he had worked tirelessly to keep them alive, were also gathered around him. And then darkness had swallowed him whole.
Suddenly, a chorus of voices filled the air. Angels descended from the skies, their celestial forms aglow with divine light as they danced and sang in jubilation. Among them, Adam recognized familiar faces, angels who had once visited him in the Garden of Eden.
"Welcome, our Adam, to Heaven," a small angel said, his voice infused with warmth and pride as he approached him. Adam blinked in astonishment and his heart swelled with a mixture of awe when the gates opened up in front of him to reveal a beautiful landscape, a city the angels informed him. He had never seen such a dazzling display before.
"And since you were the first human to be here, we gifted you with wings as powerful as ours," one of the other angels said with amusement.
Adam extended his golden wings, finally taking the sight of them. They were beautiful, so vibrant and they felt like limbs as he moved them.
"I'll definitely teach you how to use them soon," the angel said with fondness while other angels stared down at him - some with curiosity, others as if studying him.
"Of course, we expect you to be responsible with them," another angel, with rings for a head, countless eyes embedded in them, said to him. "They were not meant for a human, but the majority wanted to make some exceptions for you… So, don't make us regret blessing them to you."
Adam felt his stomach drop with fear and he quickly pulled his wings close to him, folding them by the side so they were not out in display as before; he didn't want to disappoint them and end up like Lilith.
The tallest of all angels approached him with a calm smile. "You shall serve as the great example for your fellow humans to follow, Adam. Your unwavering dedication to do as you were expected, despite the corruption that plagues your kind, is commendable. We hope many more continue to your path of virtue and aspire to join us in the realm of paradise."
Hearing her words made Adam feel a wave of relief washed over him. He hadn't felt so at peace in so long.
He grinned up at her before he followed the angels into his new home.
Adam wasn't sure how long he'd been there, but one thing was for sure, he'd been waiting for a while now… Actually, too long…
He was perched atop the tallest building in Heaven, on the edge, his tired gaze fixed upon the golden gates that stood tall and bright.
"Ah, Adam, I daresay you have a fondness of this spot," an angel, Moro, who had descended to his side, said with a warm smile.
Adam didn't respond, almost as if he didn't hear him.
"You were perched here the last time I laid eyes on you, and that was a decade ago," Moro chuckled.
Adam's gaze dimmed slightly as his heart began to ache a bit.
"Fret not, Adam. Another soul will surely arrive in due time," the angel reassured, his voice carrying a note of optimism.
"Sera said the same thing a long time ago," Adam responded quietly, his voice slightly hoarse from the lack of use.
"Indeed, entering Heaven is no small feat," the angel acknowledged, his smile unwavering. "We can't accept sinners, so we must await the arrival of a worthy soul. While humans may continue to..." He paused, a fleeting hint of frustration crossing his countenance before he banished it completely. "In time, one will be good enough. Though it may seem improbable, for none shall match your greatness, rest assured, their arrival will be worth the wait. Imagine the joy they will feel upon meeting the esteemed Adam when they finally arrive. Doesn't that sound delightful?"
Adam forced a faint smile on his face and nodded in agreement.
"Ah, our great Adam," the angel chuckled, before casting a glance skyward. "I must depart now for a meeting with my brethren. Perhaps you should seek solace from the lake—a refreshing bath would do you good," he suggested before taking flight.
The smile on Adam vanished as he turned back to the gates, his hand reaching over to his chest, palm pressing on it as the dark feeling that had appeared a long time ago began to hurt again, making him draw his wings closer to him to comfort himself.
Adam lay asleep, under many blankets, as he often did now, far from the main city of heaven, perched atop a large tree in a nest he had created, his 'home' obscured by moss. Suddenly, Moro peeked through, calling out his name with a bright smile to deliver 'great' news.
"Humans have arrived in heaven," Moro announced.
Truth be told, Adam didn't know how to react, but he left his nest as Moro had instructed and flew with him to the city. They landed on the main street to stand by the gates.
"We should get you something to cover yourself," Moro said, eyeing Adam's naked body. "We don't want you to frighten them."
Adam's brows furrowed, not understanding what Moro meant by his words.
Was there something wrong with his body?
He glanced down at himself, and suddenly a white robe enveloped his body.
"There, you look respectable now," Moro said with satisfaction.
Adam felt a twist in his chest at the angel's words and had the urge to rip the robe off, but he pushed aside his thoughts. Moro then invited him to sing along just as the gates opened to reveal two young women who resembled felines, wearing robes themselves, looking identical to each other, gazing in awe at the city as they entered. The angels accompanying them, along with Moro, sang to them, welcoming them to heaven.
Adam, however, did not join, unable to find the melody within him.
"They're twins," Moro whispered to him after the singing ceased. "Apparently, they perished together in a snowstorm, clinging to one another, the poor dears."
Adam couldn't fathom how these women could be human when they bore no resemblance to one. They appeared to be some sort of cat-like creatures.
Adam stared at the young women being led in his direction.
Moro greeted them before introducing Adam.
"He's the first human to have entered heaven," Moro explained with pride, the women in awe as they gazed at Adam, especially noting his beautiful golden wings and how he remained looking human. Adam, though, didn't know what to do at this moment. For a long time, he had only interacted, albeit rarely, with angels and not with humans. Moreover, the two young women looked nothing like him, nor Lilith, nor Eve, nor his children. They were complete strangers.
Then again, he couldn't remember how his children looked anymore; they felt as though they were just figments of his imagination by now.
"I anticipate that you will show him the respect he deserves," Moro told the young women. "He serves as the model you ought to follow. Thanks to him, he instilled hope in us that humans could join us up in heaven."
The women seemed to grow nervous, their stares ending on him, before they bowed their heads to him out of respect, just as they had done with the earlier angels.
An angel led the women away, and Adam watched them leave, holding hands, making his heart ache for Lilith… pushing him to forget about her completely as best as he could.
Adam would stand with Moro to greet the humans who gradually entered heaven over the years. Adam found himself completely lost at how different the humans continued to look as they arrived. However, Moro explained to him that human souls seemed to undergo changes in appearance upon death. There were perhaps a few souls who somewhat resemble actual humans, but even they still had some physical traits that made them appear non-human, which made Adam feel like he was the outsider now.
And to make things worse, they were all markedly different in their mannerisms, greetings, speech, preferences, and actions. Adam observed from afar how the humans interacted with one another, feeling sick and nauseous at the thought of engaging with them.
Because, truth be told, he didn't know how to talk to them without looking like a fool.
He had attempted once, years ago, when he approached one group. They greeted him respectfully, but they all had fallen into an awkward silence, the group seemed uncertain around him. They behaved similarly to how they did with high-ranking angels, displaying nervousness by him, which frustrated him, leading him to withdraw from them.
Adam had not made any further attempts to interact with humans more than he had to. Especially as other human souls didn't seem willing to approach him. They acted as if he was too 'holy' to disturb.
Honestly, he was beginning to get used to being alone; the pain in his chest had become a part of him; at least that is what he told himself every day.
The high-rank angels assigned him to keep 'watch' over 'their' people through a window, up on a tower. They had also said his presence there would inspire everyone to thrive in heaven.
In addition, they forced him to wear some sort of white mask that covered his whole head, with a yellow bright smile glowing on the front, to 'brighten' others if they spotted him if they looked up at the tower – the high-rank angels thought the lack of interest expression he wore on his face in the past years would cause other souls to feel uncomfortable around him.
But he had to admit, when he was walking in the streets of heaven, some humans would smile and greet him the same way they did with the angels. Their actions made the pain ache just a tiny bit less. Even though sometimes he felt something dark began to grow as well within his soul.
Heaven was livelier than ever before; so many souls had settled in the main city and on the outskirts as well. Adam's nest remained the same as before, the only thing that hadn't changed much. The rest of the forest where he lived was occupied by other humans who had built treehouses around.
Adam barely left his nest these days, he barely felt anything except numbness, hollow. The high-ranking angels had stopped coming to see him for the past years, too busy keeping their eyes on Earth or interacting with the newer humans... As if he didn't matter anymore…
As if he was just some old toy forgotten. A spirit simply drifting away away.
Honestly, what was so special about the other humans…?
For a while now, Adam was feeling the loneliness get unbearable, to the point that he would find himself breaking down in tears, but he fought against letting them out while he wrapped himself with his wings in his nest. Because he had never shed a tear before, and as the first man ever created he wasn't supposed to.
For some reason, shedding a tear like the rest of the souls terrified him. He wasn't sure why.
Maybe because he was in heaven and he was supposed to be happy? And if he cried... well, he wasn't sure what would happen.
At least, though… the food, thanks to the new people sharing recipes with the rest of heaven, provided him some sort of comfort. They were delicious, better than he had ever tasted in his existence. And the best part of it all was he had low ranking angels cooking the food and providing it to him as much as he pleased.
A young girl was crying, others trying to comfort her as they sat by a tree near Adam's home.
Adam was flying back before he noticed the group, descending near them. The group tensed up, looking up at him with worry.
Adam stared at them through his smiling mask, the anxiety building up before he walked over. A part of him didn't want to talk to them, but for some reason he pushed forward. He realized Emily, a young angel, was there, trying to comfort the young girl in her arms.
Emily looked up at him.
They barely knew each other. Sera tended to keep her close at all times.
The first time they met, Emily was rather shy when she introduced herself to him. Adam had simply given her his name before Sera took her away, even though she had looked eager to talk to him.
"She misses her parents," Emily told Adam.
"Are they not in heaven?" Adam asked.
"No… they're in hell," Emily said, looking down with sadness. "They died years before she did during a war."
Adam turned to the girl and repeated the words that Moro had once told him, to another soul they had found crying when they entered heaven and were told their wife was not there and would never see her again. "Do you wish to join them in hell?" Adam asked the young girl, whose eyes widened at the suggestion. Her fear was enough for Adam to continue. "Sinners should not be mourned for. They wasted their chance to join us. Now, end those tears and rejoice in the new life you've been blessed with," he said before simply turning away and flying off, leaving Emily in disbelief at his cold words and the rest of the group disheartened, as many also had loved ones they missed and who were sent to hell…
One day, Lepin, a rather young natural angel whom Adam had met briefly before, came to him and asked if he wanted to join him in visiting Earth.
The suggestion confused Adam. He knew high ranking angels would sometimes visit earth, but he wasn't sure if he was allowed to go.
"I don't think that's a great idea," Adam responded with as he pulled off the mask to reveal dark circles underneath his eyes and a very pale face.
"Why not?" Lepin asked Adam curiously. "You may have been human, but you're pratically one of us, so you have permission to go down there. At least that's what my brother told me."
Adam pondered his words but did not respond.
"Don't you want to see how much Earth has changed?" Lepin asked him curiously.
Truth be told, Adam was kind of curious, especially considering how, in recent years, the new humans were more talkative and expressive than ever before, and he would overhear their conversations as he walked past them that almost sounded like they were speaking a different language.
Adam felt nervous, but accepted, as he knew angels tend to visit earth for long periods of time would mean he wouldn't be alone during that length of time; he would have Lepin around.
Adam and Lepin made their way to the gates, and without anyone noticing or stopping them, Lepin grabbed Adam's hand, allowing a bright light to engulf them before they were teleported to a town.
"Welcome to Rheine, Germany!" Lepin exclaimed with glee, but Adam was confused as he surveyed their surroundings.
They were hovering over cobbled streets. There were some towering cathedrals among the countless half-timbered homes. Greenery surrounded the town, and everything seemed rather calm.
** (Fade to Black – Metallica) ** Listen to while the scene take splace
"Oh, right, so... it's a city within a state of a country that humans created and has been flourishing since," Lepin explained sheepishly, while Adam glanced at him silently, before both of them heard loud music emanating from an instrument Adam had never heard before. Well, it sounded similar to a guitar, but with an electronic twist to it.
Adam didn't think too much of it before the sound was accompanied by the rhythmic beats of drums.
"Oh, it looks like the humans are having a concert," Lepin said with amusement, but he turned away without showing much interest in the instruments. "You know, this is definitely going to be good for you. You've been cooped up in heaven for far too long."
Adam watched him flying off to the opposite direction where the music was coming from and for a moment, he almost followed him, but… something tugged at Adam, deep in his heart. He hesitantly turned to where the sound was coming from before he took flight towards it, where lights danced under the night sky.
As he drew nearer, he found waves of humans gathered below, their hands raised as they waved small flames in unison, moving slowly and peacefully. Before them stood a stage from which the instrumental sounds emanated, with a group of musicians performing. Yet, one among them stood out as a beam of light illuminated his figure. The musician held a white guitar-like instrument, playing a melody that beckoned Adam closer to the music. The crowd swayed beneath him, their small flames flickering from side to side in rhythm.
He descended slightly down to hover among the crowd, to watch the musical performance.
Concerts did exist in heaven. But he had never seen anything like this before, at least not with instruments that sounded powerful yet peaceful, and with people looking so unified, so close…
Then the lead singer's voice pierced the air:
"Life it seems ...
...
...
...
...
...
...
... set me free…"
Adam's eyes widened as he took in every word, to every beat radiating from the guitar, as if they were emanating directly from his own soul. The words reminded him of how his life had fallen apart, how he lost his home, the Garden of Eden. He recalled how Lilith vanished from his life, and how, as Eve continued to take bites of the forbidden fruit, making him feel overwhelmed and lost on how to deal with emotions and thoughts he never wanted. The years spent existing alone in heaven had slowly torn his soul apart, leaving behind only a shell of his former self. At times, he even wished for his soul to come to an end, because everything seemed devoid of meaning.
He watched the guitarist's fingers dance across the strings while the crowd swayed with the music, and he felt as though a presence was behind him, holding him tightly, whispering that he was not alone. It was as if someone understood how lost he was, how others also yearned to break free from their own misery…
"Things aren't ...
...
...
...
...
...
...
... now he's gone…"
Adam closed his eyes. The words continued to remind him of his pain, especially of the isolation he had endured. And how, ironically, even though he was in heaven, he felt he was in hell instead as the darkness within him had been growing worse with each passing day.
Yet, the music didn't make him feel worse than he expected. The pain that had weighed heavily on his heart began to dissipate. He felt like he was no longer alone for the first time in millennia. A smile tugged at his lips as his head swayed in time with the rhythm, his fingers itching to join in the melody. He craved to join the musicians on stage, to let everything bottling up inside of him out just like they were doing.
Yes, he didn't think it was possible anymore, but finally, he could feel moved by music just like he used to during his wonderful years with Lilith…
"No one ...
... try…"
He felt moisture gathering in his eyes, but he resisted the urge to let any tears fall.
Adam continued to sway his head; a faint glow of gold began to envelop him. It started as a subtle light, soft and gentle, warmth filling his soul.
"Yesterday ...
...
Goodbye…"
Adam had a feeling that the high-ranking angels, like Sera, wouldn't be happy with him allowing the music to reach his soul as he was doing now. And honestly, at this moment, he didn't care what they wanted from him. He hadn't felt so happy, so moved by any song or music in so long, especially not after Lilith had left the Garden of Eden. Now, after all these years, he felt alive, thirsting for more, just as the main guitarist's fingers danced flawlessly, and the other instruments and drums provided a steady heartbeat to the sound.
He wanted desperately to feel what the lead guitarist was feeling as he played his notes, to experience the emotion of the music as if he were singing the words himself. Each strum of the guitar and beat of the drums reverberated through him, the lyrics somehow giving him the will to continue existing. He longed to captivate people, just as the band was doing, to express his emotions in a way that others would embrace welcomely. No longer did he want to be a soul that was in between a high-ranking angel and the lower-ranking angels. He no longer wanted to be forgotten, dismissed, or avoided. He wanted to stand at the forefront of a grand stage, to show all of heaven the greatness that he had been forced to suppress.
After all, he was Adam, the great Adam, the first human to have entered all of heaven. Among all the blessed souls in paradise, he was the one who should be the least unhappy up there.
"Adam, we shouldn't be here," Adam heard Lepin squeak from behind, but Adam completely ignored him, not allowing anyone or anything to ruin the moment for him.
As the music reached its crescendo and the guitarist poured his heart and soul into the series of his last notes, growing faster and louder, Adam opened his golden eyes, now brighter than ever before, his grin filled with unwavering determination. Suddenly, a golden electric guitar materialized out of thin air before him. Without hesitation, he reached out and grabbed hold of it, a surge of energy emanating from his touch, causing the flames held by the people to grow brighter, illuminating the darkness that had clouded his soul for so long. Just as the music softened and quieted, and the crowd erupted into cheers that seemed endless, so too were the heights Adam was now willing to reach for from this moment on...
Lepin was standing backstage with Adam, looking rather nervous, his wings twitching behind. Both could hear a multitude of voices on the other side of the closed curtains in front of the stage.
Adam wore a dark robe with some embedded white pattern stitched around. He was fixing his unruly hair before he summoned his golden electric guitar out of thin air.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Lepin asked, glancing at the other human souls walking on to the stage, taking their place, the curtains still concealing them from the crowd. "Sera and some of the other angels are excited to hear you sing for the first time in so long, but I'm not sure if this is what they're expecting."
Adam tapped his fingers on the guitar.
"It's just music," Adam replied calmly, trying to suppress his own rising anxiety. He had never performed in front of a large crowd before, but he reminded himself of how other bands on Earth showed their anxiety before taking the stage with confidence. He told himself he could do the same. After all, he was Adam, the first man in heaven. "I just wish I had written my own songs, but I guess there's always next time."
"I don't know, Adam…" Lepin muttered. "We already got in trouble when they found out I didn't bring you back to heaven for 12 years… I don't want us to get into even worse trouble."
"You mean, I won't get in trouble," Adam said with amusement, since he had been let off the hook simply because he had never broken any rules before. And honestly, Adam was glad to have been on earth for that many years. He had learned so much and he loved to think he had grown too. Also, the high-rank angels didn't even realize he was gone till another angel had spotted him flying out from a concert with Lepin late at night in Chicago. "Come on, Lepin, lighten up," Adam said with a chuckle, as he began to walk past him. "Just tell them it was all my idea, which, well, it's true, isn't it?"
Lepin looked uncertain.
"What are they going to do? Kick me to the curb?" Adam attempted to joke, using phrases he had picked up on Earth.
"Well… I suppose you are their favorite human…"
"See, just chill, my man, it's all going to be okay," Adam said before stepping onto the stage, ignoring the knot forming in his throat.
He faced the curtains, took a deep breath, and composed himself. Turning to the side, he gave a curt nod to a female soul, signaling her to pull the curtains back and reveal the massive crowd of souls gathered before him, all eager to hear the 'special' guest that was rumored to sing on stage.
Many of the souls immediately recognized Adam, completely caught off guard to see him be the 'special' guest. While all the high-rank angels were known to sing, they had never once heard Adam do so.
Other 'winners' had never seen him before, only heard rumors about him. Since he had gone to Earth for a while, they assumed he was somewhere else in heaven that their souls could not reach.
The stage was set up in a park within the city, a large and beautiful one with small seating arrangements perched on some trees. From there, he could see Sera sitting along with Emily. Emily looked rather curious, while Sera appeared calm.
He noticed a couple of other high-ranking angels sitting on the trees as well, which made him feel rather nervous.
He berated himself not to be weak, just as he had learned from some men back on earth when they had to pull themselves together.
As the crowd slowly fell silent out of respect for the first human to play before them, Adam calmly stated through the mic, "This is a song called 'Paranoid,' created by a band on earth named Black Sabbath."
** (Paranoid – Black Sabbath) ** - Listen to while the scene take splace
Everyone looked curious as Adam's wings had shot up and he had begun to play his electric guitar first as he nodded to his own tune before the drummers and the rest of the band joined.
He stepped closer to the microphone in front of him then he began to sing:
"Finished ...
...
...
... time."
He glanced over the crowd, noting the wide-eyed expressions. Some souls looked surprised and others held shocked reactions, particularly from the angels. Even though Adam felt, for a fleeting moment, to abruptly stop, he forced himself to continue playing the guitar with determination.
"All day long ...
...
...
...
…
...
…
...
…
Whoa, yeah…"
Now, as he observed the crowd while he moved his fingers flawlessly between strings, he saw the souls gradually recovering from their initial reactions. Now, some began to nod their heads to the rhythm, with small smiles forming in their faces, their eyes alight with the intensity of the music as they absorbed the lyrics. A smile of amusement tugged at Adam's lips.
"I need ...
...
...
... blind."
As Adam launched into his solo, he witnessed a surge of enthusiasm among the 'winners', spreading through the crowd, some cheering while others began to move closer to the stage with excitement. More people joined in with nodding their heads to the beat, their smiles fueling a warmth in Adam's heart, urging him to pour even more passion into his performance.
Emily, caught up in the moment, stood from her seat with excitement, but Sera and the other high-ranking angels continued to be visibly shocked. Adam, however, paid them no mind, focusing solely on the connection he was forging with the audience through his music. Just as he desperately had hoped would happen.
He grinned at the crowd before moving close to the microphone again.
"Make ...
...
...
... so unreal."
Then, a gold magical essence began to emanate from him, a subtle energy making its way through the crowd. Though initially small, it gradually grew stronger, reaching out to touch the hearts of those present, making them feel they were heard as they, too, unbeknownst to others, were also experiencing emotions other than joy in heaven.
"And ...
...
... too late."
He withdrew from the microphone, his fingers continuing striking the strings of his guitar. The crowd were staring at him in awe, as if he was some idol, just like many living humans would with celebrities on earth. And finally, he was being seen, no longer the forgotten angel. And when he and the rest of the band came to an end, the crowd erupted into cheers, just like he had imagined in his dreams.
The Present
Adam opened his eyes, feeling well-rested; he couldn't remember the last time he woke up without feeling exhausted.
Then he blinked in confusion as he saw Emily gazing at him with the brightest smile he'd ever seen on her face. She was sitting by his bed, which seemed to have grown in size. Actually, now that he looked around, the walls were white and devoid of his posters.
He was not in his room.
He sat up, staring at his tiny hands for a long moment - a white robe now covered his body. "What the actual fuck…?" he said in a voice that made him frown.
It was official. He was stuck in some dream loop, like that guy in Groundhog Day - except he's trapped as a child. He clenched his hands into tiny fists and slammed them against his head, trying to wake himself up.
Emily's smile quickly dropped. "Adam, stop!" She jumped to his bedside, snatching his hands and pulling them away from his head, her eyes wide with shock. "What are you doing?!"
Adam didn't respond immediately. Instead, he was too stunned by the pain from his strikes. "No… this can't be fuckin' real…" he muttered, his breathing quickening. "There's no way this is happening to me." He tried to pull free from Emily - he had to find a way to wake himself up - but she held firm and then gathered him into a tight embrace, making his racing thoughts stop.
Emily had never hugged him before.
"Shh, it's okay. It's okay, Adam. Everything's going be okay," she said softly. "Just breathe. You're okay… You're safe now." She repeated the words soothingly, slowly rubbing his back.
Her arms were like a warm blanket, her gentle touches were comforting. He curled up close to her, his breathing gradually slowing down as he listened to her voice. There was a strange sense of softness emanating from her that was foreign but felt safe.
He couldn't believe Emily truly hugging him.
Truth be told, he and Emily got along. They used to hang out at his place, watch movies together, behind Sera's back – well, those were rare times – but he didn't recall a time Emily would embrace him.
Not after Sera had made it clear to both of them in the past how he wasn't anything more than basically a coworker to Emily and they had to keep their relationship professional.
And now as she held him, his mind told him to pull away, but his soul kept him yearning for more of her warmth.
After taking a few more deep breaths and a moment to gather his thoughts, he finally spoke up. "Em… why the fuck am I a kid?" he asked, disoriented, but clung to her. "I swear, if this is some stupid prank or something, someone's gonna get their ass kicked."
Adam looked up then noticed the tears gathering in Emily's eyes. She pulled him closer.
"We're not sure how this happened," she said, her voice trembling. "Everything is so confusing. We honestly thought we wouldn't see you ever again."
Adam frowned, remembering how Saint Peter and Sera thought he was also dead before he passed out earlier. "What do you mean, never see me again?"
"Don't you remember what happened to you?" Emily asked quietly, trying to wipe her eyes with her shoulder.
"Remember what?"
Emily gazed at him quietly, biting her lower lip. He knew that look and it caused the confusion in him to tighten like a noose around his thoughts.
His eyes narrowed at her. "Don't lie to me, Em."
"Adam… you were stabbed to death with an angelic steel weapon during the last exorcism you led. A sinner killed you… You've been dead for a week."
Adam stared at her before his eyes widened in shock as memories, he thought were nightmares, came crashing down. He recalled the white-hot blinding pain through his chest - someone had snuck up on him like a coward - followed by hitting the ground and more agony.
"I'm so sorry, Adam, I shouldn't have brought it up," Emily said, holding him tightly and rocking him back and forth. "You're okay, you're okay, just breathe, you're okay."
Adam didn't realize he was hyperventilating, or that he was shaking like a frightened pussy. He squeezed his eyes shut, doing his best to calm down. Like, come on, he was the first man, not a whimpering loser.
Then Lute's tear-stricken face crawled into his mind.
"Lute! Please tell me she's okay. That bitch better be alive!"
"She lost an arm, but she's okay. Well, she's better now that she knows you're back," Emily said with a soft smile.
Adam let out a sigh of relief, knowing Lute was alive.
"Unfortunately, we lost a lot of angels during the last exorcist raid," she continued. "But many returned after what happened to you."
"Those motherfuckers," Adam growled through clenched teeth, recalling how the sinners had taken down his ladies. His blood boiled at the thought of Charlie and Lucifer, the reason behind his failed mission and apparent death as well. "I'm gonna kill every one of those fuckin' assholes if it's the last thing I do. I'll make them regret everything."
"Actually, Adam, there's something I need to tell you," Emily said with hesitation, an awkward smile made its way on her lips. "Sera has placed the Exterminations on hold indefinitely. Heaven's not killing any more sinners for the time being."
Adam stared at her as if she'd grown a second head. "Wait… what?"
"I know it's hard to believe, but-"
"Are you fucking serious?!" Adam cut her off. "A sinner took me out and thanks to them, we lost a shit-ton of our warriors and we're doing nothing about it? They know how to screw us over now, Em. They're a bigger threat than ever before! We should wipe 'em all out before it's too late!"
"We can't kill them, Adam."
"Why the hell not?!"
"Because Charlie was right," Emily revealed. "Redemption is possible."
Adam's face scrunched up. "What?"
"One of Charlie's friends, who was staying at her hotel, has joined us in Heaven," Emily revealed with a small smile. "He's been here with us for a week now."
He stared at her in disbelief. Slowly, he began punching himself hard again—he had to wake up from this nonsense of a dream now.
Lucifer must have put him under some sort of sleep curse. Yep, that was the most logical explanation.
"Adam, no, stop doing that!" Emily wrapped her arms around his, pinning them against his sides.
He struggled against her. "Fuck you, Lucifer! Fuck you! I swear I'll break out of this fucked-up spell and fuckin' fuck you up!"
"Adam, you're not under a spell. This is real," Emily assured him, leaning her forehead against his tiny head. "I'm real…" she whispered, making Adam stop his struggles. "I know everything is confusing and overwhelming right now, but I swear… you're not under any spell or curse. You're alive… and safe… with us..." Her voice cracked sadly, and she broke down, tears streaming down her face. "Losing you… it was the most painful thing I've ever felt in my entire existence. You not being around, not hearing your voice, it was… terrible. It was just so bad, Adam. I felt as if my soul had been torn. It was just… too much. We were all so devastated… We all thought you were truly gone…"
Her words surprised him—his anger vanished. He listened to her sobs, her tears seeping into his hair. Adam's heart twisted; he didn't enjoy seeing anyone he cared for crying.
Maybe he wasn't in a dream or spell after all, and he was being too stupid to admit it.
He hesitantly leaned his head against her neck, feeling rather awkward; he wasn't sure how to comfort others. "It's okay, Em. Like you said, I'm alive," he mumbled. "You really thought some weak-ass loser was gonna take down the Dickmaster? C'mon, I'm too fuckin' badass to stay down."
His words brought a small smile out of Emily. She giggled softly and cuddled him close. "You're right. You are too awesome to stay dead."
Seeing how she stopped crying made him relax, but many questions still ran through his mind, along with the urge to confront Sera about the end of the exterminations. However, one question stood out the most.
"So… when is Sera or the others gonna get me back to my old self?" he asked.
"Well… about that…" Emily said with a nervous smile. "They tried using their magic to undo whatever made you a kid, but it seems… for some reason, what happened to you may be permanent…"
Adam looked up and stared at her blankly.
"I'm sorry, Adam, but… you're stuck like this for now…"
His stomach dropped, his eyes were big as saucers.
"But look at the bright side," Emily offered a smile. "At least you're super adorable!"
There was no way this was happening to him. He couldn't help but lose his cool again, screaming for Sera as loudly as he could.
"Please, Sera, I'm beggin' ya, I can't be stuck like this. There's gotta be a way around it. I can't look like some baby! Have you seen my dick?! It's a fuckin' toothpick! How the hell am I supposed to show it off now?! And look at these stupid wings! There's no way I can fly with these chicken feathers!"
"Adam, please calm down. I know you're upset, but I promise you we're doing everything we can."
"I'm more than fuckin' upset! I'm literally losing my mind!" He ran his tiny hands down his face while he sat on Emily's lap, her arms wrapped around him. Sera stood in front of them in the room.
"We know it's tough, Adam, but I'm sure Sera and the others will find a solution," Emily said. "It may just take some time. For now, we just have to trust them and patiently wait."
"Easy for you to say. You don't have a tiny dick," he grumbled.
Sera let out a small smile before she sat next to them. She laid a hand on Adam's face, making him turn his head towards her.
"How are you feeling, Adam?" she asked him.
"Are you seriously asking me that? I just told you I'm losing my fuckin' mind." His face scrunched up with annoyance.
"What I meant was, how are you doing physically? Are you in any pain or discomfort?" She caressed his cheek softly, making Adam's brows furrowed with confusion.
"No…" Adam mumbled, enjoying how nice it felt to have her hand on his face.
He realized when she held him earlier against her chest earlier wasn't a dream.
Sera had hugged him.
Sera had actually hugged him…
And he had the urge be enveloped by her arms again.
Then he remembered the tears that had slipped out from him as well while she held him. He'd never cried before. He wasn't supposed to. He was the first man; he was meant to be strong and perfect.
"I really hate this…" he grumbled, eyes shifting away, feeling weak and ashamed.
"I know you do," Sera said quietly, her thumb brushing his cheek.
"Like, this seriously blows…" Though he had to admit, he was enjoying Emily holding him and Sera's touches. They all felt so soft and warm. He couldn't recall a time when they were so touchy.
Sera was pulling away, but he quickly grasped her hand, hoping she wouldn't stop. She smiled at him, almost in the same way as the first time he saw her give him one in the Garden of Eden; when she looked at him as if he were her most cherished creation.
Sera returned to caress his face. Adam closed his eyes with a tiny smile.
Maybe being small for a moment wouldn't be so bad, especially if Sera was going to be so nice.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the open door. Adam turned, confused, to see a snake-like man standing by the doorway with a nervous, sharp teeth, smile.
"Ssssorry to intrude, but my halo hasss been acting up again," the snake man said.
"I believe I told you to stay in your room until I said otherwise," Sera said sternly. Adam was surprised to hear her firm tone used on another soul; usually, she only used it on him.
"Who the fuck are you?" Adam asked, brows furrowing. He didn't recognize the man and noted the lack of wings.
The snake man blinked. "You… don't know who I am?"
Adam looked him up and down. Nope, he had no bloody idea who the man was.
"Adam, this is Sir Pentious," Emily introduced with a smile. "He's the sinner that has proven—"
Anything else Emily said was muffled from the binding rage that took hold on Adam as he raised his hands to attack Sir Pentious with a heavenly blast. Sir Pentious yelped, covering himself to protect himself, Emily tried pushing Adam's aim aside fast, but instead of a powerful beam, only little golden sparkles burst out like confetti.
The room fell silent as Adam was in disbelief, staring down at his hands, too shocked to notice Sera making the snake man return to his room. All while Emily was hugging him close as if trying to comfort him.
Sera teleported him and herself to a room where the high-ranking seraphims would usually meet and were currently waiting.
He was no longer wearing a simple white robe, instead Sera had dressed him up with one that had an A on the front and some purple at the ends of the garment.
The higher rank angels turned to look at him, making him almost hide behind Sera, but he remained rooted by her side, his tiny wings curling around him. He usually loved attention, but something about their attentive gazes felt strange this time. Then again, they've only regarded him with disappointment or indifference for as long as he could remember.
Everyone took their usual seats. Adam had to hoist himself onto his, cursing under his breath as he did so. Once seated, he couldn't see beyond the table. He grumbled another few series of colorful words as he stood on top of the chair to meet everyone's gazes - some looked at him with concern.
"Now that we're all settled," Zerachin said calmly. "I say we should announce Adam's rebirth to the public as soon as we can."
Adam's eyes widened. "Fuck that! I can't let anyone see me like this!"
Zerachin frowned at his outburst.
"They're gonna laugh at me. I don't want to end up as the biggest joke in all of Heaven."
"Adam, no one's going to laugh at you." Vineat said.
"How ya know they won't?"
"Adam, the public needs to know you're alive," Zerachin said. "Many have been grieving since your presumed demise, and it's crucial to share the good news so they can resume their perfect lives."
"People were sad I died?" Adam blinked with surprise before he quickly put a confident mask to hide his true feelings. "I mean… of course they were. I'm everyone's favorite, after all."
"I think we can do something small later in the evening," Vineat suggested.
"That should be enough," Zerachin said, causing Adam to pout.
"We should also address Adam's role in Heaven," Moro stated calmly. "Given the circumstances, leadership for his squad will pass to someone else for the time being."
"Wait, wait a minute…! You can't give someone else MY squad!" Adam wailed.
"It would only be temporary," Wimdor said. "Till we find a way to revert you back to your original form."
"But it's my squad!"
"Has Sera informed you we're putting the exorcisms on hold for now?"
Adam felt his blood boil as he thought of the snake man that dared to show his face to him. "Emily told me. What the hell is that about? Just 'cause one soul gets redeemed after a gazillion years doesn't mean squat. What are we gonna do? Wait another gazillion years for the next loser to prove themselves? By then, there'll be too many in Hell and we'll all be doomed when they decide to attack us!"
"Who's to say more won't follow once the rest of Hell learns about one of their own is in Heaven now?" Vineat asked.
"A lot may not be willing to change," Uner said. "And we're still unsure how this redemption works."
"We've discussed this, Uner. The specifics of judgment may elude us, but ultimately, it's irrelevant," Zerachin said. "We mustn't deny souls the opportunity to amend their ways and join us."
Adam glared at them before glancing to Sera. "Sera, this is stupid, you know it's stupid. You can't stop the exorcisms. They fuckin' killed so many of us already and fuck, they even killed me! They had their chance on Earth to prove themselves. Maybe there was a glitch or something. That snake man doesn't even have wings! He shouldn't be here."
"But he is here," Zerachin said. "And that's what matters."
Adam's face scrunched up with irritation, his wings puffed out while he had the urge to kick something.
Nothing was making sense to him anymore.
"The exorcisms will remain on hold for now, and even though you won't be captain, there are still responsibilities you can handle," Moro said. "You will continue to greet the souls arriving in Heaven as you've done."
"Helping out with the Grand Garden is another role you can still perform," Vineat suggested. "And since you look like a child now, perhaps you can help with the children in Heaven."
"Nope, that ain't happening." Adam said with annoyance. "Just 'cause I look like a kid doesn't mean I have to be around them!"
"Adam…" Zerachin used a stern tone, his eyes narrowing. "You're in no position to refuse these duties. This is not a punishment, but a way for you to remain useful in your situation."
"But it's bullshit! I ain't talking to a bunch of annoying pissing brats! I hate kids!"
"Adam!" Sera gasped, her eyes widening in shock.
"Just imagine how happy the children will be around you," Vineat tried to change his mind. "They'll surely look up to you."
"I don't care! I'm not doing it." Adam glared, crossing his arms on his chest stubbornly.
"We all have roles to play, especially you, who must continue to set an example for the rest of the human souls," Moro said. "Now, stop acting like a petulant child and do as you're told."
The seraphim's words struck Adam deeply, adding to the frustration that's been adding up throughout the meeting.
There just seemed to be bad news one after the other. And it wasn't fair. What did he do to deserve this? Especially after everything he's done for the sake of Heaven?
Well, truth be told, the Seraphims never seemed to care what he wanted in the past. They never listened to him. He was used to it, but now he was having a hard time shoving down his feelings and do as he was told. And worse, getting scolded as if he were some brat was the icing on the cake.
"I'm not acting like a petulant child…" he let out, tears welling up in his eyes. He did his best to hold them back, but it was so hard to do.
Moro narrowed his eyes at him. "Then start acting like the man you're meant to be and cease these theatrics. You know better."
Everyone appeared uncomfortable while Adam's shoulders shook, his lower lip quivering.
"Do not make me repeat myself-"
"That's enough, Moro," Sera cut Moro off, glaring at him. She got up and quickly gathered Adam into her arms, who buried his face in her chest, not wanting anyone to look at him right now as he tried to calm himself down. "Adam has had a long morning. Now, I think it's best that he rests before he makes his public appearance." She teleported both away.
So much was going wrong so fast. He was no longer captain, his powers had become almost nonexistent, and he was trapped in a pathetic body that was likely the reason he was having a hard time controlling his emotions. He wanted to go somewhere far from everyone, to scream as loudly as possible, but now he doubted he could even open portals.
Damn it, why did he feel so small? And, he meant it beyond his physical state.
He tried wiping his eyes and compose himself once Sera teleported them back to Emily's apartment before familiar voice called out, "Boss man?"
His head snapped up, and he quickly turned to see five of his main ladies standing in the room, their eyes full of hope and anticipation.
Adam's eyes widened as he took in their faces. He felt a lump form in his throat before burying his face in Sera's dress. He wasn't ready to face his girls yet. Not like this.
"Sir?" another voice said, this time, it gripped at his heart. He hesitantly turned to see the girls stepping aside, revealing Lute standing there, her yellow eyes brimming with emotion.
Adam remembered how she had cried before he 'died'. Honestly, he had been surprised to see such raw emotion from her, and it made him feel truly loved… for the first time in… well, ever.
Seeing tears now gathering in her eyes made him jump down from Sera's arms and look up at Lute quietly. His former lieutenant quickly walked over to him, fell to her knees, and threw her arms around him, catching him off guard. Especially since Lute was hugging him in front of Sera and others.
"I'm so sorry, sir," Lute said, her voice trembling. "What happened to you is my fault. It shouldn't have happened. You should have never been hurt."
Her words tugged at his soul, and he slowly wrapped his tiny arms around her, hating seeing her drown in guilt. "It wasn't your fault, Lute," he mumbled.
"I should've done better. I should've kept you safe."
"I shouldn't have lowered my guard like that… And look, I'm still alive, aren't I? Yeah, I'm currently a fuckin' midget, but at least I'm not dead. Don't beat yourself up so much, Dangertits."
Lute pulled back slightly, tears making their way down her cheeks. "I swear to you, I won't ever fail you again," she said as she squeezed his arms. "I'll protect you, no matter what."
Adam offered her a small smile, raising a hand to brush the tears off her face. "I'm just happy you're safe," he said before looking down at her left arm that was now mechanical - gray and with sharp claws. "Holy shit, you're a cyborg now! That's fuckin' cool!"
He ran his hands over her arm with excitement, eyes glittering in awe, though he still was upset that she lost her actual arm – fuck the losers in Hell. But seeing a robot arm was too hard to not get excited about.
He then glanced at the girls beside Emily, now smiling with tears in their eyes. "Well, did the rest of you miss me or what?" Adam asked teasingly. Without hesitation, they all rushed forward, throwing themselves into a group hug with him.
He was really getting spoiled by so many hugs that day.
Not that he was complaining.
Sera looked nervous seeing him buried by the other angels. "Careful with him," she said.
"We're so glad you're alive," Wildhair cried with joy.
Crash grinned as she stepped back slightly as the group finally pulled away. "Lute's got a surprise for you, Boss man," she said. "You're gonna love it."
Emily gathered a box from the dining table and handed it to Lute, who opened the box to reveal a halo resting inside.
Adam's eyes lit up with pure joy, wings shooting up wide. "My halo! It's my halo! Gimme, gimme!"
The girls giggled when Adam clapped his hands with excitement as Lute carefully took the halo and placed it over Adam's head. Instantly, the halo glowed brightly, just like it used to.
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