Adam could feel his heart pounding, it felt like he was meeting his idol. Which was really weird to think about. So much had changed in such a short amount of time. When living for so long, a year could feel like a second, but sometimes seconds can feel like an eternity, and that's what was happening right now. Lute was in the building; she had just sang flawlessly, and he couldn't be more proud. Yet, it seemed fate still wished for him to wait, as of all people... Emily opened the door to see his changed form. Adam looked down, looking over the woman and how she too had changed. That punk rock 'it's not a phase mom' look really suited her.

"Emily?" His eyes widened a little; it was cathartic to see her again after just a year. "It's been forever. You and Lute are chilling out together now?" He had no right to be this nonchalant with how he was speaking to her. After all, Adam had practically abandoned his post as general of the exorcist army and completely ghosted herandSera. Oh, seeing Sera again was more than likely going to end with his head on a platter. Yikes.

"Is Lute here? I... wanna see her, if that's alright." He could easily look over the tiny angel, trying to see if he could spot his former... love.

She immediately seethed; if looks could kill, she would have smited him instantly. Adam was back? Why? What business did he have here now? He had given up his position and abandoned them, especially Lute, and now here he was casually talking to her as if nothing had changed!

She looked down the hallway on both sides to make sure her best friend wasn't coming and grabbed him by the collar.

"How. Dare. You." She growled into his face, pushing him away from her and into the wall on the other side of the hallway.

"How dare you come back here looking for her after what you've done!" She hated him more than she ever did before seeing him face-to-face. He looked different, matured, like he'd lived through a lot, but he acted the same in her eyes, and that was more than enough to kick him where the sun don't shine.

"You have no right to show your face here. Do you have any idea what you've put her through? What you've putmethrough?"

Adam's features instantly fell; the high of the concert left him as quickly as it came. He should have known... Wait. How could he know that Emily would be so pissed? She and Lute never hung out before? But... that was because of him, wasn't it?

When she threw him into the wall, he would stay there, as if glued to it. Adam didn't move; he didn't flinch; he expected to be hit and attacked for the greatest sin he had committed. Emily had every right to be so angry. Silence befell the hall; anyone who may have passed by would quicken their steps when overhearing the shouting. No one wanted to be around that storm if they could help it. For Adam, he was at the epicenter. Looking down at the angel with divine wrath in her eyes, he would speak simply.

"I'm sorry... You're right. I don't know what I've put you through, the both of you. Which is why I'm here. To try and... At the very least, give Lute some closure."

His eyes looked to the ground; it was hard to look at someone who hated you so much, but he tried to speak again, with as much humility as he could muster. "I put all of you in a bad spot, I didn't say a word, and your anger is justified. I'll... be happy to go again if you want me to stay 'dead' but..." He looked at her again.

"Not until I see Lute."

She scoffed loudly and mocked him, "in a bad spot."

"In a "bad spot"? A "bad spot" is us trying to do your stupid job. Abad spotis trying to get ahold of you. You know what's not a bad spot?"

"Lute, lying lifeless, and almost bled out on her floor."

She had tears in her eyes now, threatening to spill over as she remembered finding the usually stoic exorcist in a pool of her own blood, her phone open to the last message she sent this asshole now standing in front of her.

"What's not a "bad spot" is reading through her desperate attempts to at least know you were alive for months! Waiting by her bed for three agonizing days to see if she would even survive! You destroyed her once; I'm not going to let you do it again."

Her look was downright lethal. She was severely protective of her new best friend. Lute had needed someone, anyone, and Emily, in all her compassion, took it upon herself to fill the hole he had left in the girl. She watched her suffer through anxiety, panic attacks, nightmares, and nights of endless sobbing and hopelessness. She, herself, had spent countless hours watching Lute, afraid she would attempt to remove her existence from the world because she felt nothing without him.

And he had the audacity to not even realize how broken he had made her, on top of coming back to do it again now that Lute was happy.

Adam's eyes widened. So that's really what that meant. That last text... he looked away but then forced himself to look at the angel, regardless of what he felt. This wasn't about himself or his feelings; if he couldn't keep his eyes on her now, then how could he face Lute?

Tears would form, but he would blink them away. Silence came from him, the news rolled in his head over and over. It killed a part of him, but he couldn't falter, it was even more of a reason to see her.

"Emily..." He said, taking a step forward, determination flooding his eyes where beads of tears once were placed. He inhaled deeply as his golden wings would outstretch themselves in front of her. His wing span was great, and he held so much pride in them, which is why...

"I don't expect you to think I've changed. But if things happen again, if I break her heart, if I cause her pain and sorrow... Then Iwant youto cut these wings of mine and cast me into Lucifer's clutches."

There was no hint of comedy or deceit. It wasn't something to bring her pleasure; it was... justice. For everyone.

She was slightly surprised by the emotion in his eyes, the tears that welled in them, but her face remained strong. Had he learned nothing in the last year? So what if she cast him down, Lute would still be damaged in the process, have to start all over, and maybe never recover to where she is now. It was a risk she wasn't willing to take.

"Or I could do it now and save us all the trouble." She snarked back at him; he was always one for unnecessary dramatics. She needed to wrap this up before Lute stumbled on them herself, but she didn't know what would make this headstrong ass leave.

"What would you possibly want to say to her that makes up for anything you did at the risk of setting her back again? Why bring this all up again now? It's been over a year." She truly didn't understand his endgame; he seemingly cared about her now, but why? Why care now but not when it mattered? This was so nerve-wracking, she didn't know what to do.

"I'm not going to kick you out of Heaven, but stay away from Lute. If you really care about her, you'll give her space until we know she can and wants to see you."

Adam knew deep down there was no way he could convince her. He knew that look in her eyes, hell, he had the same look himself when it came to people he loathed. Lucifer mainly. With his eyes shut, he sighed.

"Fine." She wanted to know what he had to say. That wasn't for her ears, and truthfully, he had no idea what he would say to Lute when they were face-to-face again.

"I'm sorry, Emily." It wasn't much of anything—a weak apology. Though now he was certain the best thing he could do was leave, so that's what he did. He would turn and simply go. No fanfare, no regression, or calling her names and getting rowdy for being told he couldn't do something; he just left.