Thank you ZoomsBatty for beta reading and providing editing suggestions : D
Thank you LunaReader for beta reading : D
Chapter 3
The Past
"Sera and Wimdor are appointing me captain of some fucking angel warrior squad," Adam lamented to Lepin and their bandmates one evening in his living room. They had been listening to one of Adam's new songs he had made up for their next gig. "They were acting like it's some kind of honor that Wimdor chose me over others. They sat me down and showed me what I'd have to do with the girls, and I said, 'Fuck that, too many fucking responsibilities. I ain't leading no one.'"
"What did they say?" their drummer, Mannie, asked calmly.
"Sera gave me one of those 'you better do it' looks, which means… we ain't gonna play as many concerts as we used to, I guess," Adam grumbled, fingers strumming his guitar briefly. "And honestly, it really pisses me off. Everyone knows how much I love playing these shows."
Lepin furrowed his brow but refrained from commenting. He understood the importance of any responsibilities given to them by Sera and the others, and they had to follow them. Yet, he couldn't help but feel bad for Adam while he looked frustrated. Adam passionately loved music, becoming a much happier person ever since he discovered rock and roll on Earth. Lepin didn't see why heaven wouldn't allow Adam to continue with what he was doing.
"'Protecting Heaven is crucial, Adam,'" Adam mimicked Wimdor's voice mockingly. "'You should be grateful to defend those who care for you, blah blah blah.'"
"But... defend us from what?" the bass guitarist, Taban, queried, with a raised eyebrow.
"Maybe some fucking fairies, I don't know, who gives a crap. We live in Heaven; no one's gonna attack us. For fuck's sake, there's no point of having warriors, and I'd rather sit here with you guys and just jam," Adam groaned before a mischievous smile made its way on his face. "And hook up with a bunch of hot babes, of course."
The group chuckled at Adam's choice of words while Lepin shook his head at them with amusement, but soon he felt his chest churn as he noticed Adam's smile wane, replaced by a somber expression as he gazed down at his guitar.
Adam really loved his music…
"Don't worry, Adam, it might not be so bad," Lepin offered, attempting to reassure him with a supportive smile. Adam's distant gaze remained fixed on his instrument. "And who knows, maybe you'll end up loving it, too. Just give it a chance. What's the worst that can happen?"
Throughout the meeting with other high-ranking angels, and Adam, Emily maintained a calm smile while she listened closely to the subject at hand. Across from her, Adam sat on his seat, leaning on one of the armchairs with boredom, his demonic mask adorned his face; he rarely showed his actual face these days.
As the meeting drew to a close, a few of the angels excused themselves. Wimdor, Moro and Sera delved into another conversation, providing Emily with an opportunity to talk to Adam. "Hey, Adam, when are you planning your next concert?" she inquired curiously. "You used to hold them weekly, but it's been a few months now. Many people have been 'dying' to know when you're playing again," she giggled from the modern term she had just used.
Adam's mood perked up, and he leaned forward on the table with a grin. "Ah, so, people have been thirstin' for a piece of the legend, huh?" he remarked, a hint of amusement in his voice. "And who could blame them? I mean, who wouldn't want more of yours truly? Well, great news 'cause I've been workin' on some killer songs. Two weeks from now, Saturday night, tell everyone to mark their calendars, Em. It's gonna be fuckin' epic."
"Unfortunately, Adam, that evening is already booked for you to coordinate with another angelic squad for practice routines," Wimdor interjected calmly.
Adam's grin faded into a scowl. "Damn, slipped my mind," he muttered, arms crossed as he slouched in his chair. "Fine, I guess I'll do it on Sunday instead."
"Sundays are reserved for your other obligations," Wimdor reminded him. "Must I remind you what they are?"
Growing increasingly frustrated, Adam raised his voice. "Well, fuck. Friday it is!"
"Isn't that the day you and your squad are scheduled to inspect equipment?" Wimdor countered.
Adam shot Wimdor a sharp look but held his tongue, visibly seething. Instead, he turned away, his mask's sharp teeth clenching in irritation.
Emily immediately felt bad for Adam for the burden of responsibilities he now bore as the leader of his own squad and other tasks relating to monitoring Heaven, duties that seemed to have escalated since a few years after his return from Earth. She couldn't comprehend why he had been saddled with such responsibilities all of a sudden. Before his journey to Earth, he wasn't expected to do much.
Determined to uplift his spirits, Emily recalled something else that had been in her mind lately. With a bright smile, she began, "Oh, Adam, guess what?"
"What?" Adam grumbled, still frustrated.
"I was talking with some human souls a few days ago, and they taught me something super interesting. They brought up how some humans back on earth would have half siblings and how they usually worked, and this got me thinking, and I've had an amazing realization!"
Adam turned to her, allowing her to continue.
"You know how my brothers and sisters created you?" Emily continued.
"Yeah?"
"Well, in a way, they also made me, though, of course, they created me by using heaven's light just like how other seraphims were created, but, I was thinking, since both of us were created by the seraphims and archangels, and you, well, when you died, the angels used the same light to make you partial angel like the rest of us, we're like-"
"Emily!" Sera's voice rang out sharply, cutting her off, her stern gaze fixed on the youngest angel in the room.
"Hold on, what?" Adam asked, his brows furrowed in confusion.
Emily blinked, casting a glance at Sera before returning her attention to Adam. Wimdor and Moro wore disapproving expressions.
"You... didn't know...?" Emily's voice trailed off, sharing his confused expression now. "I assumed you did, considering you're the only human soul capable of using angelic powers."
Adam stared at her, then turned to the other angels, wanting an explanation. Wimdor rubbed his eyes with annoyance.
"I thought you guys just gave me angelic wings," Adam said, since his wings were far more powerful compared to the ordinary weak ones those other human souls had in heaven.
"That was the plan, but we're not entirely sure what happened when we allowed your soul to merge with some of heaven's light," Moro confessed. "We didn't realize it until you began casting illusions a few hundred years after your arrival."
Adam fell into an unusual silence, most likely that the realization that he was not just a mere human soul anymore was probably either a surprise or a shock, especially since the angels had kept the truth from him for thousands of years.
Emily felt a pang of disappointment toward the other angels for keeping Adam in the dark. Nevertheless, she was determined to uplift him in that moment with the big surprise she was now ready to share.
"As I was saying," Emily resumed, drawing Adam's attention back to her. "Since you're like one of us, you're what humans would say, my half-brother," she said, smiling brightly. "Isn't it wonderful, Adam? We're family," she declared, her eyes sparkling.
Adam's anger softened, replaced by surprise as Emily's words sunk in. An array of emotions flickered across his masked features, followed by a hesitant smile.
"You're such a goof, Em," he attempted to deflect with humor, though there was a glimmer of hope in his eyes, one that Emily had never seen before, and it moved her soul.
"I'm serious, Adam," Emily said, still holding on to her smile. "We're family. And you're like an older brother to me. You're funny, very cool, and—"
"Emily, that's enough," Sera interjected firmly.
Emily frowned, meeting Sera's gaze.
"Adam is not your brother. He is not your family."
"Of course he is! How can you say that?" Sera's words astonished Emily. "If he's not family, then what is he to us?"
Adam appeared uncomfortable, glancing hesitantly at the older angels.
"He's our great Adam," Moro stated matter-of-factly, his blue eyes fixed on Adam. "The example all his descendants should follow. Our greatest..." Moro trailed off momentarily, eliciting a sick sensation in Emily's stomach. "You know very well what he is," Moro concluded, with a hard smile.
Emily frowned, her brows furrowing as she glanced between Moro and Adam. Adam, for his part, briefly resembled a lost child, his wings limp, before mustering a grin and a laugh.
"That's right, baby," Adam boasted, puffing out his chest with pride, but now completely avoiding eye contact with her, his wings pulling close to his sides. "I'm the one and only Adam, the OG human in this heavenly paradise, the man who started it all."
The Present
Adam sat on Emily's lap, chatting with his favorite exorcists. Sometimes he wanted to sit on the couch without being cuddled, but he also loved the warmth and safety of someone's arms around him. So, he stayed where he was while asking the warriors about what happened after he was stabbed to death and who survived. He was glad that his main 'ladies', the first warriors assigned to him when he became captain, had survived.
His ladies told him what they'd been up to since his 'death'. They had mostly stayed in their room mourning, which Adam found sad, but they were now thrilled he was back. They felt guilty for letting him down in the last exorcism, but Adam quickly reassured them not to feel guilty; he blamed Charlie and her demon friends for his downfall.
They also told him how Lepin had brought nighttime to Heaven. After his 'death', people wanted an atmosphere to reflect their feelings, and after a day of requests, the seraphim agreed to let Lepin bring darkness to the skies every night.
Adam kept running his hand over Lute's mechanical arm while they talked. There were times he thought about the way Lute had cried before he 'died', it had honestly confused him, but of course he wasn't going to bring it up to her. Though, he was tempted… Instead, he began asking her a barrage of questions.
"Can you feel anything with the arm?"
"Yeah," Lute responded.
"What is it made of?"
"Angelic steel and other materials."
"Can it shoot lasers?"
"No."
"Can it shoot magical bullets?"
"No."
"Can it shoot anything?"
"No."
"But it can slice demons in half!" Wildhair exclaimed. "Tell him, Lute. Tell him how you're able to take down targets faster than with your sword."
"It's easier to land a killing blow," Lute admitted. "But I haven't tried it on a demon yet, and I'm not sure if I'll ever get the chance," she added, her tone bitter and her eyes narrowing at Emily, who responded with a nervous smile.
"Sera, I want a robo arm," Adam said, looking up at the Seraphim standing by the group.
"You're not missing an arm, Adam," she replied.
"But I still want one. We can replace my right arm, but I want it in gold."
"But then, how are you going to play your guitar?" Emily asked him. "You'll need to relearn everything with a new arm, and it will take a lot of time to be as good as you're now."
Adam frowned. She had a good point…
Sera then informed all about the evening announcement, despite Adam's dissent. However, seeing that Lute and the others didn't laugh at him or belittle him in his condition helped him feel less anxious. He hoped Sera and the others would reverse whatever had happened to him soon. He also reminded himself he had to confront the snake man that was staying at Emily's apartment later, which he was not happy about.
He had to get rid of the sinner somehow soon.
Lute and his ladies left after an hour. Adam wished they had stayed longer. He was happy to have his halo back, allowing him to talk to Lute whenever he wished, maybe even having her visit him.
However, his mood soured when Emily had him sit with the snake man now in the living room. She wanted them to properly introduce themselves. Of course, Adam was not pleased. He sat with his arms crossed, glaring at the 'former' sinner, who was pathetic and whose name Adam was determined to forget.
It turned out the snake man was inside the balloon Adam had incinerated, and Emily wanted him to apologize for 'killing' him, which Adam thought was stupid.
"I had no clue he was in that stupid balloon," Adam retorted. "And he was trying to kill me first! I was just defending myself!"
"Well… we were defending oursselvesss from you," the snake man said meekly. "You were trying to kill usss, after all."
"Yeah, 'cause you're demons and should fuckin' die!"
"Adam…" Emily sighed, gently tapping his knee. "Please, we should try to get along here."
"You shouldn't fuckin' be here," Adam sneered at the snake man. "I wonder what you did on Earth to end up in Hell. Did you hurt or kill someone? Can't wait to see if any of your victims are in Heaven and what they'll think when they see you here. They ain't gonna be happy, that's for sure."
The room fell silent. The snake man looked visibly upset, his face growing pale as he stared down, clenching his fists in his lap.
"No one's gonna want ya here, Worm Breath. You should go back where you belong before you embarrass yourself."
Adam was nudged awake. He had fallen asleep on the couch, though he wasn't sure exactly when. It must have been around the time Sir Pentious slithered back to his room like a defeated puppy, leaving Adam alone while he channel-surfed.
He rubbed his eyes with his tiny hands and looked up in confusion to see Sera smiling softly down at him.
"It's time, Adam," she said, picking him up. Still tired, he rested his head against her chest, letting out a small smile when he heard her steady heartbeat and felt her warmth as she held him securely.
Yeah… he really enjoyed Sera holding him.
She then teleported them to the tallest building in Heaven.
"He doesn't look ready," Moro commented as he saw the bundle in Sera's arms.
"We just woke him up from a nap," Emily replied.
Adam hesitantly looked to see the gathered Seraphim in the room. His stomach dropped at the sight of them, especially with Moro present. He felt a mix of disgust and shame as he remembered how he had cried in front of them earlier. Quickly, he buried his face in Sera's dress, not wanting to see anyone. Not wanting to see their disappointment at how pathetic he'd been.
"I'll take him, Sera," Vineat offered, since it was agreed that Sera would start the announcement before the big reveal.
Before Sera could hand Adam to Vineat, Moro suddenly took him.
Sera stared at Moro with an unreadable expression. Vineat was puzzled, and Adam froze in the Seraphim's arms.
Moro had never held him before. Of course, Sera hadn't either until that day, but her presence had been warm, while Moro felt cold. Adam didn't want the Seraphim holding him, especially after Moro had made him cry earlier.
Yet, Adam chose not to argue then. He felt too nauseous, so he stayed silent and avoided eye contact.
"Well, what are we waiting for?" Moro asked Sera, who stood there in silence. Adam wished she could take him back, but instead, she made her way to the grand balcony of the tower to address the human souls.
Moro grabbed Adam's chin, forcing him to meet his intense gaze. Adam's heart raced as he felt scrutinized, especially when Moro tilted his head from side to side. Eventually, the seraphim let out a satisfied smile.
"Yes. This will do," he said, making Adam blink in bewilderment.
Moro pulled Adam closer to his chest, but the embrace felt possessive, unlike the softness he had received from others. Adam glanced at Emily with a pleading look, but she was too engrossed in Sera's speech.
"And like I said, it has been hard for all of us with the loss of our dear Adam, but we bear good news," Sera said loudly to the residence of Heaven. "A miracle has taken place just this morning."
Moro then moved toward Sera and stepped out onto the balcony.
Nope, Adam was not ready for others to see him, especially in someone's arms like a baby. He had a bad ass reputation to maintain.
He struggled in Moro's grasp, but it felt he was pushing against a stone wall.
"Behave," Moro's cold tone resonated through Adam's halo, making him go still. He peeked out nervously to see the street filled with human souls, some filming him from above to broadcast on screens in Heaven or in people's homes.
"Our dear Adam has been returned to us," Sera said, stepping aside for Moro to take her place. Adam heard surprised murmurs from the crowd, though many looked wary.
"I have spoken to the elder angels," Moro announced loudly, "and they revealed that our father, the grand creator, has blessed us with Adam's return, giving him a second chance." Sera and the other Seraphim on the patio turned to Moro in bewilderment. None of them had known this piece of information. Adam was caught off guard as well.
God did this to him?
What the hell?
"Now, join us in celebrating this blessing from the grand creator and welcome Adam back to Paradise," Moro announced, prompting people to erupt into cheers and applause with pure jubilance.
Adam cautiously glanced at the human souls once more and saw genuine smiles on their faces, some even had tears of joy. He was surprised to see people actually happy to see him again, especially since he wasn't playing a song or wearing his mask.
He gave a shy smile to the crowd and bravely flashed a rock star hand sign, which elicited even louder cheers. It confirmed to them that he was indeed Adam and had returned just as Moro had said.
Back inside the tower, the cheers from outside could still be heard. Sera and the other Seraphim stared at Moro with frowns.
"Our creator blessed Adam, you say?" Zerachin asked with suspicion.
"That's correct," Moro replied. "Uner and I visited Metatron and the others to ensure there was no evil magic associated with Adam's return. They revealed that our father saved Adam's soul from complete destruction and brought him back to us."
"That's all we know," Uner added. "At least, it's all our older siblings have told us."
"Why didn't you share this news with us sooner?" Sera asked. "And didn't you say you couldn't get hold of the elders?"
Moro smiled calmly. "They finally saw me." He glanced down at Adam, tilting his chin up again. "Our father has given you a second chance, my dear Adam. It shows that you are indeed special, just as we all believed."
Adam's brows furrowed at the Seraphim's words, and he didn't notice Sera narrowing her eyes at Moro for the way he was holding him.
Truth be told, the Seraphim hadn't made him feel special for many years. But if the grand creator did have something to do with his return, it meant he was indeed special and not like the rest of the humans. But why did the grand creator have to bring him back as a fuckin' child?
"Why would our father bring Adam back as a child?" Zerachin asked Moro.
That was the exact fucking question Adam was asking himself just now!
"That we didn't get an explanation from our brothers," Uner said.
"Will I grow back to an adult?" Adam asked, hoping for a yes.
"We're not sure."
Adam's eyes widened as the fear of being stuck as a child gripped him tightly by the throat.
"No matter, our father must have a good reason for giving you this form," Moro said. "And I'm starting to realize why." He chuckled calmly, making Adam's stomach churn with unease.
Adam wasn't sure why he felt scared around Moro and felt a surge of relief when Sera took him back. He clung to her dress and sighed as she covered his head with one hand while holding him securely by his bosom with the other.
"Also, it seems Sir Pentious has been brought to Heaven by our father as well," Uner revealed, causing surprise among everyone in the room.
Adam's stomach dropped, his mouth hanging open in disbelief.
Alright, the grand creator must be losing his mind. It didn't make sense that a sinner was given another chance. That's not how things worked—or at least, how they should work. Why was it fair that someone who messed up could 'change' their ways after death and join them in Heaven? If Charlie was right about others joining from Hell to Heaven, then… no, there's no way. Those in Heaven would be shocked and probably afraid of living among those who wronged them.
His chest twisted in rage at the thought of Lucifer or that tiny demon being given another shot in Heaven. If more sinners arrived, Paradise would truly be ruined.
"Oh, Adam, there's a special group who wants to see you," Emily said while the Seraphims were discussing why their father would allow a sinner into Heaven; they weren't too happy. Sera handed him over to Emily while Moro was talking to her about a different matter.
Adam overheard Moro tell Sera they should make sure to get it 'right' this time with him. He wasn't sure what that meant but hoped it meant something good.
He immediately perked up when he was face-to-face with Lepin, his band, Annie, and Claire. Lepin and his band were in tears, huddling around Adam. Annie had a calm smile, while Claire's soft expression suggested she was on the verge of tears as well.
"Oh, Adam, we missed you so much," Lepin said, tears trailing down his cheeks as he pulled his beanie down over his eyes to hide his crying.
"We're so glad you're back," Mannie patting Adam softly on the back.
"Even though you're like 1/4 back," Ben, the second guitarist, joked.
"You sure it's not 1/5?" Taban teased.
"Haha, very funny," Adam said with a scrunched-up face. "Laugh all you want, assholes, but I'll be back to my normal size soon, and ya'll all be shrimps compared to me again."
"Okay, we all have to admit, that was very cute," Ben said to the rest of the group, referring to Adam's facial expression.
"Very much so," Annie agreed with a chuckle.
"I ain't cute; I'm hot," Adam said, tilting his chin up.
"You mean handsome?" Annie suggested.
"The most handsome of all of Heaven," Claire agreed affectionately. Adam blinked in surprise but then smiled widely, his wings rising from his sides.
"Hell yeah!" he exclaimed, causing Mannie to tear up and throw his arms around Adam.
"Don't ever die again!" Mannie cried, catching Adam off guard, especially when Taban ruffled his hair.
The reunion with his former band didn't last long. Sera advised Vineat to take Adam back to his mansion to settle him in while she attended to some duties she had put on hold.
Vineat took Adam's hand and teleported them to the mansion. The place was clean, but his room was exactly as he had left it.
"Emily didn't want anyone to throw away anything," Vineat said, making Adam wonder why. Did Emily somehow know he was coming back? "And I'm glad we didn't."
They then stood in the room in silence, which Adam found slightly awkward, especially as the seraphim just smiled at him softly.
"Well, I should be going now," she said. "I'll come get you tomorrow afternoon for your gardening duties. We're so glad you're back, Adam. You don't know how much we missed you. Now, have a good rest of your day." With that, she vanished, leaving Adam alone in his room.
He stared at the spot Vineat had been standing seconds ago, hating how all the warmth that he was feeling vanished completely, leaving nothing but a cold void in his chest, just like he usually felt in his existence. This time though, it felt worse, and, for some reason, the mansion seemed quieter than usual for his comfort.
Running his hand through his hair, he thought about everything that happened that day. It all was surreal. He had died, for a second time of his existence, and it had been far more painful than the first time. The sensation of the knife running through his chest again and again still lingered. It was nuts… everything he just went and was now going through was just plain crazy.
There was no way no one else thought the situation was far more normal. He was a child for crying out loud because the grant creator decided randomly it was for the best. It honestly didn't make sense.
Approaching a large mirror on the wall, he stared at himself. It was strange seeing his reflection like this. He had never been a child before, and he had often wondered in the past how he would have looked as one.
Well, that question has been answered now.
Nice going, Adam… Shouldn't have ever been curious about it to begin with.
Tilting his head from side to side, he spread his wings wide. They weren't as large as they used to be for his body, but…
"Damn… I am adorable…" he mumbled before bringing his wings close to his sides. He felt he was still in some dream that he wasn't sure if he wanted to wake up from. Being held by Sera and Emily was so nice, and he couldn't wait for them to hug him again. But at the same time, he didn't want to be some stupid child.
Then, his stomach rumbled.
Now that he thought about it, he hadn't eaten anything all day.
He headed to the kitchen but had trouble reaching for the fridge handle, his fingers barely brushing it. While muttering some curse, he pushed a heavy chair over to open the door - thankfully, some superhuman strength remained, even if it wasn't as strong as before.
To his disappointment, the fridge was completely empty.
No matter…
Using his halo, he contacted some virtuous women—creatures created in Heaven to serve humans and angels—to bring him some food. They eventually arrived at the front door, three of them, with boxes of countless junk food to place on the kitchen island. There were deep-dish pizzas, burgers, fries, chicken nuggets, potato chips, and his favorite—ribs from three different restaurants.
After they left, he climbed onto the table and sat among the food, devouring ribs and a burger with delight.
Oh yes, he loved food so much, the ribs were perfect, but found himself getting full before he had the chance to touch the pizza and nuggets. Curse this tiny body for keeping him from devouring everything he ordered…
It was strange; he couldn't remember the last time he didn't finish a meal.
He decided to leave the food out, hoping he'd get hungry again soon. Climbing down from the table, he went to his basement. He grabbed the remote control from the seats after his magic failed to operate the projector - he was glad he had actually paid attention when he learned how to use it – then plopped into a seat and turned on the projector, intending to play where he had left off a week ago. Instead of Metallica, he noticed that the projector was showing his first concert in Heaven, which was already past midway.
Someone had been in his basement, watching his concerts. He wondered who it could be… Then he remembered Lilith.
Damn it, he had completely forgotten about her.
His chest clenched as he believed she might have returned to Hell the moment he 'died', abandoning him once again. Their soul binding deal most likely fell apart when he was killed.
Well… maybe it was better that she was gone. He wasn't sure how she would react if she saw the state he was in. Even though… they were finally becoming close once again.
Wings dropping at the thought that Lilith left Heaven. He glared at the screen, gripping the remote too tightly. To distract himself, he switched to cable and tuned into the news, which was broadcasting his return.
A smile spread across his face as he listened to interviews conducted during the event, with people expressing their joy at his return.
"We all felt like a part of ourselves was missing when we thought he was gone," someone said in an interview. "He's done so much for us and been in our lives for so long. How could there be Heaven without the first man blessing us with his presence?"
The words made his chest warm. A wider smile spread across his lips as he spent the rest of the evening soaking in the joy and excitement of those who were glad he had returned.
Eventually, a tired yawn escaped him as he made his way up the stairs, then stopped in his tracks. The first floor was unusually dark, with only his halo providing light. Panic almost rushed through him before recalling his ladies mentioning how Lepin had brought night skies.
Brow furrowed, he went to the kitchen and then to the large window walls. The sky outside was dark, lacking the brilliant, colorful hues he was used to. There were small shades of purple and specks of blue. Truth be told, he wasn't sure how to feel about it. It was strange to not see the bright lights painting the skies – the only time they were dark was during his new year's parties he threw for the fireworks.
Then he realized the kitchen was too dark, he could barely see the cabinets and the appliances, and it seemed to be expanding, crawling to him. He brought his wings closer to himself and tried to conjure balls of golden light to illuminate the room, but only sparks emerged from his hands.
For crying out loud...
After scanning the dark room, Adam began to worry about the possibility of the snake man hiding in the deep corners of his mansion, waiting to get his revenge. Or maybe other demons had slipped into Heaven, like that annoying little demon that killed him…
He didn't know what to do. Vineat wouldn't come until the following afternoon, and he didn't want to bother the Seraphims. Reaching out to them was something he only did when it came to Heaven's protection and annoying them with something as pathetic as being afraid of the dark sounded pathetic and wrong.
Hold on… since when was he afraid of the dark…?
Nothing scared him. He was Adam, the first man, the best and most power-
He froze for a few seconds as he swore he saw a dark silhouette in the corners of the kitchen before he quickly ran up the stairs to his room, shutting the door behind him and jumping onto his bed. The room was almost pitched black. Throwing the sheets over himself, he curled up with his knees drawn close, trying to reassure himself that everything would be okay. This was Heaven… He was safe, just like Emily had said.
But it was hard to believe that with Worm Breath now living among them while he couldn't perform any magic spells and wasn't as powerful as he used to be.
Contacting Sera crossed his mind desperately, but he was still hesitant to do so.
Reaching out to Lute wasn't an option either, fearing she might think he had not only become a child but also a coward.
Emily was another choice, but… Sera might get mad at him if he had Emily come over…
The young seraphim originally wasn't allowed to spend too much time with him and when they did it was always behind Sera's back.
"Adam is not your brother. He is not your family." Adam quickly shoved the memory aside, hating how his chest clenched painfully from it.
He craved for a warm body to hold him, make him feel safe, feel like he mattered... Then a brilliant idea popped into his head.
His halo glowed brighter as he contacted the one person, he could count on to spend the night with him if he couldn't find anyone else.
"Hey Claire!" Adam said, trying to hide the fear in his voice. "I miss you sooooo much. Why don't you come over at my mansion? I'm so bored without youuu."
"Hello Adam," Claire responded. "I would like to, but I don't think it's appropriate, given the circumstances."
Adam frowned, actually stunned by her reply, and the fear gripped at his heart a bit tighter. "Are you fuckin' kidding me? Come on, Claire, you never say no. Just 'cause I look like a brat now, ya gonna reject me? I ain't asking you to have sex with me. I ain't stupid…" he said with frustration.
He peeked from under the covers, and for some reason, the room just seemed to have grown darker despite his bright halo. Slipping back into the sheet, he muttered, "Look, Claire, please, just fuckin' come over…" The words trailed off as he brought his wings and legs closer to his body. Eyes shut hard, he hated the lump forming in his throat. "I hate how dark it is here…" he mumbled quietly.
He almost disconnected the call out of shame when the words slipped out, but Claire's voice stopped him.
"Adam, are you alone at the mansion?" she asked, her tone filled with confusion and concern.
What kind of question was that?
"Well, duh, that's why I'm fucking asking you to come over," he mumbled, as if it was nothing new. It was true; he usually was alone at his home, and Claire was the one person who would come over when he needed her – sometimes he had random women over, of course.
Claire's silence on the other end made him nervous, fearing she might still refuse.
Maybe he could convince her to stay up and just talk with him.
"Claire…?" He hated how he sounded like a scared child. "You know what? Forget what I said. I'm just tired and don't know what I'm fuckin'—"
"Adam," Claire cut him off gently. "I'm coming over. Give me a few minutes, okay?"
"Don't take too long." He ended the connection, and let out a sigh of relief. But he mentally cursed himself for being such a loser, then did his best to distract himself by humming tunes of his favorite songs, choosing them by random, starting with "Turn to Stone" by Electric Light Orchestra and eventually finding himself quietly singing "Chelesea Dagger" by the Fratellis.
"Chelsea, Chelsea, I believe
When you're dancing slowly, sucking your sleeve
The boys get lonely after you leave
It's one –"
Three familiar steady knocks on his bedroom door made him stop singing. He hesitantly pulled down the sheet when the door opened. Claire's light pink halo illuminates the room before she quickly makes her way over to him, carrying a large duffel bag. She placed a soft hand on Adam's face as he gazed at her quietly, relief washing over him.
The urge to throw himself to her was strong, but he held himself back.
"I'm sorry I didn't come sooner," Claire said, her voice tinged with regret. "Everyone's added lights to their homes since Lepin began bringing darkness to the skies. It looks like they forgot to add them to your mansion. Did you come here alone or?"
"Vineat brought me," Adam replied.
Claire's expression shifted to one of mild annoyance. "I can't believe she left you here alone. Unbelievable," she muttered. She then grabbed his favorite pillow and stuffed it into the duffel bag, making him confused.
"Um, Claire? What are ya doing?"
"I can't spend the night with you," she explained gently. "But don't worry, I'm taking you to someone who's more than happy to have you stay with them." She then picked him up, and warmth filled the dark void that had been aching in his chest as he pressed his head against her neck. "I'm guessing they didn't give you a nightgown or another set of clothes."
Adam shook his head, which made Claire let out a sigh of irritation and walked through the mansion, before flying out to the night sky with him in her arms.
It didn't take them long to reach the city. The streets were filled with soft, colorful lights. There were barely any people outside; the ones lingering were just talking by some late-open coffee or donut shops. Claire landed by Molly's Delights bakery. Despite the store being dark with a closed sign on the door, she still knocked.
A spider-looking woman, Molly, opened the door with a cheerful smile. "Well, look who it is!" she greeted him warmly. "Well, if it isn't our favorite rock star. And oh, my stars, Adam, you're so cute!"
Adam smiled to see Molly. He first met her when she arrived in Heaven, though he couldn't recall if they exchanged words then. But when he came back from his long visit on Earth, he visited her bakery, which became his all-time favorite, and instantly got along with her. She was one of his biggest fans - he would see her among the crowd at his concerts a lot.
Truth be told, she was pretty cool to talk to, probably the nicest human soul to have entered Heaven, besides him, of course. She even once admitted to him that he had given her the guts to open the shop after she went to one of his concerts. He wasn't sure why she said that, but he took the credit anyway. And it didn't surprise him that Claire brought him to her since both women had become pretty close to one another in recent years.
"And you prob'ly heard this a lot, but I'm so glad you're back," she said.
"I just wish I wasn't a fuckin' kid," he grumbled.
"Well, I think ya look adorable, and don't worry, before ya know it, you'll be back to your old self. Now come on in and let's get ya settled."
Molly led them to the back, then up the stairs to her apartment. Claire informed Molly that Vineat had left Adam all alone in his mansion, with no lights, which left Molly shocked while she was looking for a shirt for Adam to sleep in.
Adam wasn't sure what the big deal was. Again, he was usually alone in his mansion. But, he thought it was pretty cool he was staying at someone else's home; he'd never done that before.
"I want to wear this one," he pulled out a black shirt with the words Dickmaster printed in gold across it.
Claire looked uncertain while Molly pulled out one of her baggier t-shirts. "What about this for tonight?" she asked gently. It was a simple white shirt, but it would serve well to cover Adam's body completely like a nightgown.
"But this one's cooler…"
"Ya ain't wrong, but this one's softer and you'll sleep better in it. Touch it and you'll see, it's really soft."
Adam ran his fingers over the almost silky feel material. "Yeah, I guess it's pretty soft."
While Adam was changing, Molly's eyes widened, throwing a hand on her mouth at his bare body.
"They didn't even give ya underwear?!" she exclaimed, making Adam blink at her with confusion.
"Oh, he never wears anything of that sort," Claire pointed out. "Though, I should probably get him some first thing tomorrow."
Claire knelt by Adam once he was wearing the large shirt; it was so large on him, it was dragging on the floor. "I hope you have a good night with Molly and make sure you have a healthy breakfast," she said. "None of those chocolate brownies, you hear me? I'll come get you tomorrow in the afternoon."
"Vineat's supposed to pick me up in the afternoon tomorrow for gardening duties," he said.
"Come again?" Claire's brows furrowed.
"Gardening duties, you know, planting and shit. They don't want me being captain right now, so I gotta do other boring shit." Adam rolled his eyes in frustration.
This time, he noticed Molly frowning as well, which was rare.
Did he… say something wrong?
"What other things do they want ya doing, Adam?" Molly asked him.
Adam told them about what the Seraphims decided he should do while he was stuck in such a weak form. "I told them I don't wanna help with the kids of Heaven, but they wouldn't listen. It fucking sucks…" he grumbled, crossing his arms on his chest as he glared down at the floor with bitterness.
The women were quiet before Molly went over to him to pick him up gently.
"Well, if ya don't wanna help some kids, then ya don't have to," she said with a gentle smile, making Adam raise an eyebrow. "Better yet, if ya wanna sleep in tomorrow, we can, you and me, or I can think of fun activities we can do together."
"Like what?" he asked curiously.
"I'll have to think of somethin', but I promise it'll be fun."
Adam was grinning before it dropped and he looked down with uncertainty. "But I think Zerachin and the others will get all pissy if I ditch my duties."
Then again, in the past he used to avoid his chores at times, but for some reason, he was very hesitant to play hooky this time around.
"You let us worry about them," Claire assured him, surprising him that she would say such a thing. "Now, it's getting pretty late and I don't think we want to find out how much grouchier you get as a kid when you're tired."
Adam snorted with amusement; he did enjoy sleeping a lot and hated missing an ounce of it.
Claire said her goodnights before she left. Molly had an extra toothbrush, and he was brushing his teeth on top of a chair that she brought for him to the bathroom. Eventually he was in bed with Molly, her arms holding him close to her chest. The room was dim, colorful tiny lights were hanging around to illuminate the room. His favorite pillow just laid on a side, forgotten.
"Hmmm, I never thought this was how we would end up in bed together," Adam joked, making Molly giggle as she caressed his head.
He enjoyed her touches, soaking in how warm and soft she was. But as he laid there quietly, he couldn't help but hesitantly scan the room. He didn't like how dark the corners of the room were – yeah, he was being paranoid, but who could blame him?
"What's wrong?" Molly asked him quietly.
"Nothing," he grumbled, scooting closer to her, his head burying on her chest.
She gazed at him for a moment before she reached over to grab a stuffed animal that was perched on her bed frame.
"Her name's Butter Biscuit and she usually likes to sleep with me since she gets scared of the dark," she said, showing him a pink looking stuffed little pig, with tiny white wings. "I think tonight, she's feeling rather terrified, more than usual. So, what do ya say? Should she join us in bed so she feels better?"
Adam stared at it before looking at her as if she grew two heads, probably would match the number of legs that she had. "Um… Molly… that's just a toy." He said it in a way as if she was dumb.
Molly chuckled, not offended by his tone. "I know, but she's special and she makes me feel safe whenever I hold her." She placed the stuffed animal gently into Adam's arms.
Adam hated to admit it, but the toy was so soft, squishy like a marshmallow, but even better.
He recalled how kids would play with stuffed animals or carry them in their arms back on Earth – when he visited there - and some even in Heaven. He never understood the appeal to them, but now, as he held one, he wanted to hug it as tight as he could, and he did as he wrapped his small arms around it.
"Don't worry about anything, Adam, we're all here for ya," Molly whispered as she pulled the bedsheets over them and brought him closer to her. "I think it's about time someone takes care of ya."
Adam closed his eyes, letting out a small smile at the thought about her words, of not worrying about anything for once.
Now, that was a nice thought… but too good to be true.
Let me know what ya peeps think of the events with Adam and the others. Oh Moro, always trying to manipulate a situation, and how dare Vineat leave a child alone o.o
Well, you can see the human souls aren't going to just stand there and do nothing hahaha
And yeah, Molly is gonna be playing a role in this story : ), also Sir Pentious as well
Thank you peeps for comments/reviews/feedback/kudos, not sure when another chapter will be up but yah, thank you for the support : )
If you enjoying this story, please leave a kudo in archive of our own on the story : D, if you're able at least : )