Chapter Three
Uncovered
Zebulon stared blankly at the board. His pencil lay in the nook at the front of the desk. His work for class was done. Yet his mind was racing. He was grappling with the ungodly cosmic knowledge he was bestowed, and his position within it.
Rakon and Solaris are fragments of pure creation, and the necessary destruction that facilitates creation. For eons they've been at each other's throats because of their natures. They transcend both space and time, existing in all worlds simultaneously. Yet… for some reason, I've been dragged into their celestial conflict. But for what reason? Why me? I still don't get it. I don't want any part of this supernatural bullshit… I'm not a hero… or villain. Or whatever the fuck… I'm just me. He thought, rolling his thumbs over his temples. The utter ridiculousness of his situation still baffled him. For the life of him, Zebulon could not figure out a reason why he was the one who was now stuck with an all-powerful entity who embodied both life and death.
"It seems Lord Rakon did not explain his position well enough. Unfortunately, he did not inform me of what his reasonings are. Perhaps they are beyond both mortal and artificial intelligence. But he believes you to be the correct candidate, Titan. Perhaps events moving forward will present an explanation. Or, perhaps he will test your resolve first. For now, I have completed an analysis on all supernatural creatures in this room. Would you like to review my analysis?" Eva's voice said in his ear. The Armor's HUD screen appeared over his vision, despite it not being equipped. Zebulon sighed and saw two files hovering in his vision. He had to admit, having Eva as a constant presence was a boon. He was able to keep tabs on things he would normally forget about. He quickly realized how beneficial having a supercomputer in one's head could be. He did not even have to struggle with science class. Eva simply connected to his phone and pulled the correct information for him to review.
Yeah, alright. What's up? Zebulon wondered, the first file in his vision opened and he saw a picture of Rias which Eva had snapped with some techno-magic.
What…?
"Rias Gremory. She is your classmate, and as I could see, a friend of yours. She is a powerful Devil. Pureblooded. She is intelligent, cunning, and quite adept with magic. Her appearance is that of a young woman, however, Devils live for far longer than humans. It is nearly impossible to determine her actual age, though it seems that, for Devils, she is young. My sensors detected powerful magic hidden within her. From what I could gather, she a leader to other, lesser Devils. Several of which I have detected being present within the confines of this campus." Eva explained. Zebulon was stunned. He kept his eyes forward as he looked over Eva's analysis page. Her physical details were noted, including her height and weight. He rose a brow at a set of three numbers, apparently in Metric.
What… the fuck? Rias isn't human? No fucking way… I… I can't believe it. But… then, why befriend me? Also, Eva, what the fuck are these numbers? I get the height and weight, etcetera… Zebulon thought. He rubbed his eyes, but the HUD stayed present even when he closed his eyes.
"All recorded measurements are what I could scan externally. The measurements of ninety-nine, fifty-eight, and ninety centimeters are her bust, waist, and hips. Is there something incorrect with my measurements, or do you wish for them to be converted into Imperial, also known as Standard, units of measurement?" Eva asked flatly. Zebulon caught himself before he lost his mind and shouted out loud like a madman. He shot a glance at Rias and then stared back ahead at the board.
WHY? WHY DID YOU RECORD THAT!? Uh… sorry, I mean, why are those measurements necessary?
"Given your age, stature, levels of testosterone, and primal nature as a natural born Homosapien, I assumed these may help in your assertation of a mate based on your preferences. To my knowledge, it seems you prefer women with strong bodies that are built well for child-rearing. If you feel they are not necessary, I can exclude them from my future scans." Eva explained. Zebulon nearly planted his face in his desk. He sighed internally and pinched the bridge of his nose.
You… you can exclude them from future scans. Okay, what's this other analysis? Zebulon wondered. He elected to ignore the fact that Eva was doubling as a biological matchmaker and move on.
"Shall I deduct those same measurements from the analysis of subject; Akeno Himejima?" Eva asked. Zebulon froze. He breathed in slowly and shot a glance to his right. Akeno diligently and elegantly worked away at her desk. But it seemed she sensed his eyes and glanced over as well. She locked onto his eyes and a smile crested her lips. She winked and went back to her work.
Uh… no.
"Understood. It seems you are attracted to her. When I read out her name, your heart rate increased to one hundred and two beats per minute and various chemicals related to sexual desire were secreted. Here is the analysis of Akeno; a half-Devil, one created through a process of rebirth by magic. She is also half Fallen Angel, it appears. An intriguing combination. She is quite powerful but is under direct control of Rias Gremory, her master. There is an obvious connection between the two. Height; one hundred and sixty-eight centimeters. Weight; fifty-four kilograms. Her body measurements are as follow; one hundred and two, sixty, and eighty-nine, bust, waist, hips, respectively." Eva explained. Zebulon suppressed a gasp.
That's… just over forty inches… holy shit. The difference is only like, an inch and maybe three sixteenths but… Holy shit. Alright then… wait, she's half Devil, half Fallen Angel? Zebulon wondered. He eyed Akeno again.
'You're perfect just the way you are.'
Is she… does she resent her nature? I shouldn't dig into that. Considering Devils, Fallen Angels, and Angels are probably not on the friendliest of terms… it makes sense. Akeno… Zebulon felt his chest twist slightly. He looked down at himself. He felt like a fool.
"I will be continuing to scan for other magical and supernatural entities. Your theorization that those three factions are not allied is correct. According to my database, there was a massive war between all three factions many eons ago. It is entirely possible that Miss Akeno is distressed over her dual nature." Eva said. The AI then went quiet and Zebulon made his HUD go away. He shook his head and placed a hand over his gut.
Here I am, self-conscious about my physical appearance… then, there's Akeno. I can't even imagine what goes through her head. What a fool I am. She was supporting me, and I just thought she was being nice. Goddammit… Zebulon sighed audibly this time as the school day wrapped up. He had dominated a basketball game in gym class, though it was only with the other boys. He had not been given many chances to talk to Akeno or Rias today.
"Oh, and a fair warning; while you may be on good terms with these Devils, do not let your guard down. You carry Lord Rakon's power and I suspect they were able to sense it before my Technomantic power was activated, which now cloaks your magic and Lord Rakon's power. I presume this is what drew that Fallen Angel into attacking you. Be careful, Titan."
Yeah, I'll keep that in mind.
The bell rang and Zebulon began packing up his stuff. He activated an advanced hearing module that his new powers came with. He was beginning to like this whole magic stuff. He still was not too sure about the whole being a vessel for a god thing, but pros and cons could wait.
"I have to cancel club activities for today. I have a meeting with my brother today." Rias said quietly to Akeno as she turned around.
"Aw, oh well. I'll text the others… I guess I'll just head home then." Akeno whispered back. Zebulon caught Rias sneaking a glance at him. He did not react and continued packing away his papers. He slid his comically large pencil away and waited patiently for everyone else to leave before him as he did normally.
"C'mon, you can spare a few hours. Go hang out with your new boytoy." Rias giggled in a whisper.
"Miss Akeno's heart rate just increased. I have been assessing her since your mood also changed."
"Rias! Don't be like that… he is pretty cute. But I don't know…" Akeno mumbled. Zebulon cut off his advanced hearing and smiled to himself.
You know, maybe being a badass dragon god vessel is a good thing. Zebulon watched as Rias got up leave first. She stopped behind him.
"See you later, Zeb!" Rias said and pulled his head into a hug. Zebulon steeled himself as his head met a set of pillows.
"Huh… comfy." Zebulon said with a grin. Rias giggled and released him. She walked out of the room and Zebulon stood up as Akeno started walking past him. His grin remained as he turned towards her and threw his bag over his shoulder.
"Hey,"
"Oh, Zeb, what's up?" Akeno wondered. She seemed surprised and stopped walking. Zebulon glanced at his watch and shrugged.
"Just wondering, you busy? You did say you wanted to hangout more. I convinced everyone at home that, if I stay out later, it's not because you and Rias kidnapped me." Zebulon joked, though there was truth in his words. He genuinely had to convince his sisters that he had not been kidnapped yesterday. Akeno smiled slyly at him. Zebulon felt his confidence faltering.
"Oh, Zeb, are you asking me out on a date?" Akeno wondered, fluttering her lashes and giggling. Zebulon's posture drooped and he felt his words get caught in his throat.
Aw fuck…
"Uh, um… I… that wasn't exactly my intent. But uh, I mean… if that's how you want to interpret it… um…" Zebulon stumbled through his words as his mind lagged. Akeno's simple teasing somehow easily shattered his confidence each and every time. Akeno laughed.
"You're too cute. Hmm… maybe I should treat it like a date. Then I could lay a kiss on your lips instead of your cheek." Akeno said, putting a finger on her chin in thought. The mischief in her eyes was apparent as she licked her lips and eyed him up and down. Zebulon blushed and glanced away.
"Um… uh…" He stuttered. He searched the reaches of his mind for a response but came up empty handed. The gears in his mind ground to a halt and he felt like he was steaming.
"Oh dear. Zeb, calm down, I'm just teasing you! I'd love to hangout today. What would you like to do?" Akeno wondered, laughing a bit and placing a hand on his chest. Zebulon breathed a sigh and let his mind slowly reengage.
Okay, that's over- aw shit, I didn't think I'd get this far. What am I even doing? Fuck it, dig in and figure it out. 'You can't offer a woman something and not step up.' Zebulon thought, remembering his father's words. He searched his mind a moment as Akeno watched him expectantly. Her gentle smile and kind stare did not help him think any faster.
"I'm still not too familiar with the city… why don't we just start walking and maybe you can show me a few things?" Zebulon suggested. He wanted to smack himself for such a terrible suggestion, but he did not have any better ideas. Akeno's smile widened and she slid her hand down to his and slipped her nimble, thin hand into his.
"I'd love to show you around. Shall we?" She wondered, slowly pulling him towards the door. Zebulon was dumbstruck. His plan, albeit more an idea, somehow worked. He still was not sure what drove him to seek out Akeno's company, but it felt better than heading to the gym by himself again. He allowed Akeno to pull him out of the classroom. Though it was more Zebulon jamming himself through the still-bent doorframe. Once through, she continued holding his hand as she led him downstairs and out of the building. Zebulon felt the eyes of lingering students on him as he followed Akeno outside. He was suddenly very aware of how his predicament appeared to others.
Oh no… they're going to think we're dating…
"Is that a poor perspective to have?" Eva's voice chimed in his ear. He thought for a moment before a stupid grin split his face and he stepped up to walk next to Akeno. He tightened his grip slightly and Akeno glanced at him with a smile.
"Zeb… you know if you keep holding my hand like that…" Akeno trailed off, glancing around as they made their way across the campus. This time, she blushed slightly. Zebulon kept grinning and casually tossed his bag over his shoulder.
"Eh, why should we care what they think? Let's just go have fun." Zebulon said. Akeno slowed for a moment before he caught her smiling out of the corner of his eye. She caught back up and slid closer to him.
"Then… do you mind if I just…" Akeno trailed off quietly and slipped her hand out and wrapped her arm around his. She slid her hand back into his grip and pressed her side into his arm. Zebulon shuddered as her softness assaulted his nerves and he blushed slightly.
"No…" He whispered and grinned a bit as she tightened her grip. Arm in arm, they left the academy grounds and Akeno gently guided him off towards town.
"There's the gym I've been using. If Dad would've bought a bigger house, I could've set up a room for lifting. The equipment is just sitting in a storage locker right now… dammit." Zebulon grumbled as he and Akeno passed by a large workout center. Akeno giggled at him, her head now laying against his shoulder. Though her head barely made it to his shoulder and was more on his upper arm. As they strolled down the street, the various residents of Kuoh parted like the Red Sea for them. Zebulon's size was certainly intimidating and many of the locals were giving him stares of awe mixed with slight trepidation. Akeno giggled.
"I should go out with you more often. Not only will I never lose you in a crowd, they'll simply move out of the way for you." Akeno commented. She ran her thumb over the back of his hand and Zebulon chuckled.
"Even back in the States people moved out of my way. Funny enough, I got more attention from dudes because of my muscle." Zebulon said, eying some of the equipment in the gym. He sighed as he spotted someone squatting incorrectly. He turned his head and saw Akeno smiling up at him.
"Well, I certainly appreciate it. You're surprisingly comfortable. Are you sure you didn't get buff to get the girls?" Akeno wondered. Zebulon shook his head and chuckled.
"No. It was just something I wanted to do. Both of my grandfathers were Strongmen, they both shattered records left and right. On my dad's side, Grandpop Edward decided he wanted to pull a C-one-thirty cargo plane… and then did it. On mom's side we have Grandad Wallace, affectionately nicknamed 'The Wall', who pushed a semi-truck up a one-mile hill. I haven't done anything so extraordinary myself, but it felt natural to just start moving weight." Zebulon explained. He flexed his arm slightly and Akeno giggled.
"What do you think you could do?" Akeno wondered as they continued to stroll. They meandered past several shopping stores and into a walkway that held a mall. One Zebulon was unfortunately familiar with.
"I dunno… maybe hold up the Heavens themselves like Atlas. Actually, I've lifted all of the Atlas stones in a few competitions. They were a challenge, but if you do it right and have the right amount of strength, it's not as hard as it looks. Well, it is incredibly difficult but that's not my point…" Zebulon trailed off as Akeno stopped and giggled at him.
"Look at you, casually throwing huge rocks around. I wonder how you'd throw me around?" She wondered with a cheeky grin. Zebulon's brain stuttered for a moment before her words sank in and he cleared his throat. He turned away with a blush.
"I… uh, I try to be as gentle as I can with other people, unless it was in wrestling. Ah goddammit… the hole gets deeper…" Zebulon sighed and hung his head. Akeno laughed quietly at him and stepped in front of him. She tugged on his hand.
"Oh, settle down, I'm just teasing you again. Can I drag you on a quick little window-shopping trip? The handbags in here are gorgeous." Akeno said, gesturing to the store they stood out front of. Zebulon glanced and instantly recognized the store. It was the same one his sisters had dragged him to. He suppressed a sigh.
"No problem- wait, window-shopping? You don't want to buy anything?" Zebulon asked with a grin. Akeno pouted and gently punched his chest.
"Don't be like that, I'd love to get one… they're just pricy is all." Akeno said, her eyes wandering back to the store. Zebulon remembered his sisters' purchases. Then, a brilliantly stupid idea entered his mind. He followed Akeno into the store where she dragged him around, looking at the various handbags.
I do have a… very disposable amount of money just lying around. The one thing I try not to take for granted, being stupid rich. I try my best not to look the part too often. Though I'm guilty of buying expensive shit all the time, just not as often as Gina and Hayley do. Eh, I'll make it back in two hours anyway. Zebulon thought as Akeno examined a handbag. She poked at him.
"Can you hold my bag a moment?" She asked, her violet eyes boring a hole through his soul. Zebulon nodded and took her schoolbag in the same hand as his own. His wallet was in his left pocket anyway. Akeno smiled as she picked up the designer bag. She turned to him and slid it onto her arm.
"Well, what do you think? Does it suit me?"
"Hmm, I assume you wouldn't wear your school uniform with it. It doesn't match well, but… it does contrast nicely against your hair." Zebulon said with genuine sincerity. He had borne witness to the various fashions his sisters sported, so he had a slight eye for it. Slight. Akeno blinked in surprised and smiled.
"Forgive me, but I didn't expect such an honest answer… you really think so? I've wanted this one for a while." Akeno said, playing with a strand of her hair. Zebulon nodded and rubbed his chin.
"Is that so? What's the price on the tag?" He wondered, leaning down and flipping the tag over in his fingers. He was surprised, it was far cheaper than the ones his sisters had bought.
Oh, I see, there's a sale today. How convenient.
"I certainly couldn't afford it myself. Rias can… but she doesn't buy me anything." Akeno pouted and slid the bag off of her arm. She went to put it back up on the rack but Zebulon reached out and gently stopped her hand.
"Shame, because I can." He said and gently prized it from Akeno's hand. Before she had a chance to retaliate or protest, Zebulon turned on a dime and headed towards the register. He got about halfway before Akeno caught up.
"Wait, Zeb, I can't possibly let you buy me something like that! I'd feel bad, it's so expensive." Akeno protested, rushing in front of him. Zebulon grinned and slipped past her.
"Don't feel bad. I'll make it back in like two hours." He said, stunning Akeno as he made it to the register. He set it on the counter, let the cashier ring it up, and whipped out his wallet. With one hand he managed to pull one of his cards and dinged it against the scanner. With a beep it was done and Akeno stepped up next to him, still shocked by his actions. Zebulon deftly slid his card and wallet away and turned to hand to the bag to Akeno. She gently accepted it and stared up at him.
"Zeb… you didn't have to…" Akeno said breathlessly. Zebulon smiled and gently pulled her into a hug. Akeno fidgeted slightly and slipped her arm partway around his waist.
"I wanted to. I'm glad I met you. Your kindness has been a very welcome change to the usual for me. You might not expect it, but even rich kids aren't always treated well. Especially the odd ones out like me. Unlike Rias, I wasn't admired a lot. The egoists didn't respect me because I didn't flaunt my wealth, and the ones who weren't wealthy always expected me to be an egotistical prick. Between that, my personality, and other things, I haven't had many friends. So, thank you, Akeno…" Zebulon said quietly, holding Akeno close. She sighed happily and rested her head on his chest.
"You goofball… you could've just said 'it's a gift'." Akeno giggled. Zebulon chuckled and gently released her. Akeno slid her new bag onto her shoulder and did a twirl.
"Well, I tend to be a little more detail oriented. Shall we continue on?" Zebulon suggested as they left the store. Akeno nodded but pulled out her phone. She sighed and her shoulders drooped.
"Aw man… I'd like to keep going but I should probably get back to the temple soon." Akeno said. She turned and looked up at Zebulon with a sad glint in her eyes. Zebulon felt his grin falter a bit but he did not let the bad news put him down.
"Ah, it's alright. I don't want to keep you all night. Let me walk you home… Wait, temple?"
Zebulon gawked at the massive staircase before him. The stone steps stretched for what appeared to be hundreds of yards up a decent incline. The one enemy he never did quite conquer in all his years of working out.
Stairs.
"Here we are, home sweet home. It might be a little dated, but it's just as wonderful as any home could be. I'd invite you up, but I have to see to my priestess duties and don't want to bore you." Akeno said as she stepped up onto the first few steps. She turned and pouted as she was still just shy of eye level with Zebulon. Zebulon shook off his surprise and shrugged.
"Believe me, nothing is as boring as the documents and emails I read for dad's business. Office language should be a sin. Just tell me what the goddamn issue is in thirty words or less…" Zebulon sighed, rubbing his forehead. He enjoyed helping with business matters, but the overt 'professionalism' of the office workers and managers made reading up on the documents a hassle in and of itself.
"Oh my, seems like you could use a little distraction… I suppose you could stick around and watch me change into my robes…" Akeno suggested, smiling coyly. Zebulon's thoughts crashed out of the filing cabinet and he blinked a few times as Akeno stared at him with her playful eyes. He sighed and resisted blushing. He failed.
"I wouldn't want to intrude…" He muttered. Akeno giggled and leaned forward a bit. She teetered on the edge of the step and Zebulon instinctively reached out and gently held her shoulder.
"Please don't fall."
"Maybe you should catch me if I do… See you tomorrow, Zeb, and thank you for the handbag. I'll have to make an outfit with it for our next… date." Akeno said, smiling wide. Zebulon blushed as she leaned in further and kissed his cheek again. When she pulled back, she hesitated, her face floating just an inch or so from his. She seemed contemplative. She reached up and gently gripped his jaw and wiped her lip gloss off of his cheek. Her thumb slid across his light stubble. Zebulon realized he was holding his breath.
She… she isn't going to, is she?
"Hmm… maybe next time… bye!" Akeno said suddenly and stabilized herself on the stairs. Zebulon quietly released the air in his lungs as she turned and started up the stairs.
"Phew… of course she didn't… we're not a thing…" Zebulon mumbled quietly. He glanced up the staircase as a strong breeze picked up.
Oh no…
It was too bad that his body and mind did not react fast enough. The random heavy breeze caught Akeno as well and flipped her skirt up slightly. Zebulon caught a glimpse of something dark between the light and snapped his head to the right so quickly he felt his neck pop. He heard Akeno make a noise of surprise and out of the corner of his eye he saw her look over her shoulder at him.
"Man, that's a nice streetlight." Zebulon said, staring in fear at the street post his head was facing. He heard a giggle come from Akeno.
"Shame, I think black looks good on me." Akeno called down the stairs. Zebulon's face went stone cold and he continued staring at the street light. He looked down at his watch. He did not wear a watch.
"I should go… look at the time…" Zebulon said and robotically started down the street. He heard a laugh in the distance as he went out of sight. Once he was a decent distance away, he gripped his chest and leaned on the wall along the sidewalk.
Fucking hell… what was with that random fucking breeze? It wasn't even windy today! What twisted machinations could have concocted such a stupidly predictable event? What vile god just decided to throw some air in my direction for a laugh!? I… I should go home. Zebulon thought, regaining his bearings. He shook his head and kept heading down the street.
"That was an interesting event. It follows the same logic as an overtly perverted TV show trope commonly found in many 'Anime' productions made here in the country of Japan. My sensors can usually detect changes in air pressure, direction, and density. I did not account for seemingly random events such as those." Eva said in his ear. Zebulon shook his head and sighed.
Eva… Thank you, but you don't have to analyze it. I'd just like to forget it happened.
"In that case, shall I delete my video and audio recordings of today's events as seen through your eyes?"
"Recordings!? WHAT THE HELL!?"
About A Week Later…
The days went by rather quickly since Zebulon went on his excursion with Akeno. During that time, he had barely seen her as it seemed her and Rias's club had kept them rather busy. Zebulon himself had been busy catching up on business work his father had sent him. More of the usual, though it seemed his father was looking to open a position for Zebulon to eventually move into. Zebulon closed the email app on his phone and slid it into his pocket as he exited the school grounds.
Rakon hasn't spoken to me since I met him. Perhaps he really is testing me, waiting for something to happen that tests my mettle. What the hell am I going to do about this? I want to become a successful businessman, not a mythical figure. Maybe I can do both? Oh god, that sounds like a lot of work… Zebulon thought. He was on his way home like normal, but for once he did not really have much to do besides work out. He sighed.
Perhaps I should find somewhere to think on this a bit more. I'd like to have a level head before I go to the gym. This shit has been throwing my workouts off… He thought and started heading for the edge of town. He made it out towards another park, although it was not the same one that he was ambushed in last week. Kids played on the playground nearby and Zebulon found a comfortable bench to seat himself on. As he took a load off, he observed the area and noticed a church off in the distance atop the hill. A ding went off in his head.
"My sensors are picking up on several supernatural entities and their energies emanating from that building. If you intend to approach, do be cautious and engage the Armor." Eva advised. Zebulon had slowly gotten used to having Eva in his head constantly. He engaged his HUD and zoomed in on the church. It appeared fine on the outside. He switched visions and spotted several magic sources below the building. They were identified as Fallen Angels.
Interesting. They can hide from normal magic users trying to find them, but since I can literally detect magic energy itself, their powers can't hide them from me. A weird workaround… but then again, this is highly advanced technology… which is indistinguishable from magic. Whatever… guess I'll keep tabs on it, what the fuck? Zebulon noticed the sensor alert again as he zoomed out. He glanced over to a small girl walking through the park with a large suitcase.
"Interesting. Her magic levels are intense, yet she is fully human. She must have what this world titles a 'Sacred Gear' or a type of sealed magical ability or entity, similar to Lord Rakon. Essentially, the Abrahamic God granted various reincarnated heroes and normal humans different powers and abilities in the form of these Gears, the most powerful of which being the infamous Longinus variety have enough power to slay Gods. They operate similarly to the seal which bound Lord Rakon to the Orb. Though they pale in comparison to Lord Rakon's powers over Death." Eva explained as the girl walked down the path. Zebulon nodded along to the words, noting the obvious nun's attire the girl wore.
Seems she's a Catholic nun. She looks very young, though. Oh shit… Zebulon sighed as he watched the small nun suddenly trip on her dress and topple over. Her huge suitcase cracked open and her veil flew off her head. He stood up and walked forward until he intercepted it.
"Sister, are you alright?" Zebulon wondered as he approached with her veil. The girl fixed her dress and sat up on the ground. As he got closer, he noticed how absurdly massive her suitcase was.
"Oh, hello sir! I'm alright, thank you for asking… where is my…" The nun wondered, patting the top of her head. Zebulon crouched down and handed her the veil.
"Ah, thank you so much!"
"No problem… if I may, what are you doing hauling around a suitcase larger than yourself?" Zebulon wondered, helping repack the suitcase. He made sure not to look at the obvious undergarments scattered around. The nun sighed and started grabbing her clothes off of the pathway.
"Oh, I've been assigned to the church out here, but I've been searching all over for it! Oh, forgive me, where are my manners? My name is Asia Argento! Thank you again for your help." Asia said, giving Zebulon a warm smile. He looked up at her and blinked in surprise. For a moment, it was looking into a feminine mirror. She was blond with green eyes, like himself. Zebulon chuckled.
"Huh, we look similar. Pretty sure I only have four sisters, though." He joked as Asia got her suitcase repacked. Asia looked up at him and giggled.
"My, we sure do! Might I ask your name, sir?" Asia wondered. Zebulon cursed himself silently.
"Now I've forgotten my manners. Zebulon Crossworth, but most people call me Zeb. Pleasure to meet you, Sister Asia. Oh, and you don't have to call me sir. I'm only nineteen." Zebulon said, gently shaking Asia's hand. Asia gasped.
"So young! But you're the size of a mountain!" Asia exclaimed, she then put her hands over her mouth as though she had just cursed. Zebulon chuckled and stood to his full height.
"I'm aware. Good genetics and lots of working out tends to make someone pretty big. Well with the formalities out of the way, mind if I give you a hand? That's a me-sized suitcase anyway." Zebulon joked and offered his hand. Asia took it and stood.
"Oh, please, you've been so helpful already! I can carry it." Asia said and struggled to hoist the suitcase up again. She nearly fell again but Zebulon quickly stooped down and pulled the suitcase up over his shoulder with ease.
Damn, probably about seventy pounds right there. She looks like she barely weighs eighty pounds… also, is the church she's supposed to go to the one up there on the hill? Zebulon wondered as Asia admired his raw strength. He felt a chill run down his spine as he turned and glanced at the church in the distance.
"Wow! You're so strong! Thank you so much, now I just have to find the church… You wouldn't happen to… Oh, there it is!" Asia exclaimed as she followed his gaze. Zebulon sighed internally as she began to happily trot across the park towards the road leading up the hill. He started after her.
"Are you sure you've been assigned here? The place looks like its seen better days." Zebulon said. He checked a few images Eva captured and noticed the obvious lack of maintenance on the building. He eyed it as they reached the base of the hill.
"Hmm? Oh, yes! It's apparently quite important to the Church. I was told a priest was already here." Asia said innocently. She did not seem to be lying, but Zebulon knew a bad deal when he saw one.
Eva, can you keep tabs on this girl? I don't like the way this sounds. Fallen Angels in the basement, a priest already there, and now this seemingly innocent nun gets 'assigned' here… It feels… sinister…
"Noted. I will keep track of Asia Argento and her actions. Would you also like me to alert you to any noticeable changes in the environment of the abandoned church?"
Yeah… please. Zebulon readjusted the suitcase as they ascended the hill. Asia happily trotted up the hill and even ran ahead a bit, reaching the edge of the church grounds as he caught up.
"Here we are! I can take it from here, Zebulon. Thank you once again, you must be a blessing in disguise! By God's grace you appeared to assist me. What a wonderful world we live in…" Asia said, happily accepting her suitcase as Zebulon lowered it down. She did her best to handle the weight and set it at her side. She bowed to him.
"May God bless you in all your days, and I hope we meet again. Please do take care."
"Yeah, no problem, Sister Asia. I'm sure we'll cross paths again. Maybe you can tell me more about this place sometime. For now, I should get going. Take care!" Zebulon said and gently shook Asia's hand again. She waved as he turned and headed back down the slope. His eyes narrowed and he shot a glare back at the church.
I really don't trust this. We're coming back later, full armor, full stealth. I can't ignore this, not when one of those freaks… or, rather, one of the bad ones tried killing me.
"Understood, Titan. I will continue to monitor the area from your home. I too, find the situation alarming. The Fallen Angels here is certainly one of the ones who attacked you. Upon closer inspection, one of the magic signatures inside matches my readings from that night."
I don't like getting into fights… but if it means someone like that is in danger, I can't ignore it… even if I try to. Something isn't sitting right with me…
Zebulon clenched his fist. If there was one thing he could not stand, it was someone innocent being put between the jaws of the vile.
I won't let it happen to my sisters… why shouldn't I stop it from happening to someone else…?
That Night…
"So, Asia, are you prepared to assist us in our mission?" Raynare asked, stalking across the floor of the church. Asia sat on one of the pews, nervously watching Raynare. The odd priest, Freed, stood near the doors. He was apparently the 'guard' for them. Some guard he was indeed. Zebulon watched through a hole in the roof of the church, completely invisible in his full Armor.
"Y-yes, Lady Raynare. All in God's name…" Asia said quietly. Raynare smiled wickedly at Asia. She was the Fallen Angel that had attacked Zebulon the week prior. He clenched his fist.
What's that wicked bitch up to? Asia clearly isn't one of them… she looks terrified…
"Oh yes, all in the name of God. We work towards being reaccepted by Him and His holy light. Fulfil your duties with us, and I can guarantee the Church will have no choice but to bring you back into the fold." Raynare said. She approached Asia and patted her on the head gently. Asia giggled nervously.
"What am I to do, Lady Raynare?" Asia asked. Raynare's smile suddenly vanished and she glanced over at Freed the priest. Or rather, the former priest.
"Freed, take Asia and see if you can draw out one of the Devils in the area. We need to ensure they cannot take us on. Kill them, one by one. Devils have no place in the Heavens… Right, Asia?" Raynare said, cupping Asia's cheek. Asia nodded as Freed sighed and cracked open the door to the church.
"Right, come along you little shit. We have Devils to kill!" Freed said, a sick grin splitting his face. Zebulon wretched at the man. With a simple expression, Freed has thoroughly disgusted him to the core.
That dude has something seriously wrong with him. So, that's their ploy? Taking out their foes one by one to ensure they won't interfere? Something like that… too bad I'm not a Devil. Zebulon thought as he silently took to the air. He hovered a decent distance above the building as Freed exited with Asia in tow. They started down the hill. Zebulon could easily catch up to them, but he lingered for a moment.
"Yes… as soon as the ritual is ready to be performed, the Twilight Healing that stupid girl has will be ours." Raynare said to another Fallen Angel who came out of the underground passage. The man nodded and looked down the passage as it slid closed.
"This feels too easy. That idiot better not lose the nun. Her power will be useful for concealing his presence, but if something happens, we might not be able to respond in time." The man said, adjusting his fedora. Zebulon made a mental note to shove that stupid hat where the sun does not reach. He then took off into the night to follow Freed and Asia. He watched as they walked, keeping to the shadows and checking behind them.
What the hell am I doing…? I don't need to be involved in this but… I can't help feeling like I need to help Asia. And those fuckers are going to take something from her… I can't imagine what though.
"Twilight Healing, a powerful Sacred Gear with the power to heal almost any ailment or injury, even near-death to a degree. However, it cannot resurrect a target after they have passed. Only reincarnation magic, such as the type used in Devil rebirth rituals, has such a power. That, and of course, the Life Essence of Solaris." Eva explained. Zebulon was amazed. Asia commanded a power many would consider a beautiful gift of raw kindness. Many others still would covet such a power. He gritted his teeth.
I can't imagine they would use that power to be nice and heal cancer patients or save lives. If they came after me, seeking to claim Rakon's power, and were willing to kill me for it… No, this ends now. Zebulon banked as he flew and descended.
"Right… I do believe this residence here is the one contacting the Devils. While I go and… talk to the bastard, would you please put up the barrier? Can't have any of the other wacky little buggers intruding…" Freed explained as the pair approached a home. Asia stood just behind him as they stopped outside the front door. Freed went to knock and a middle-aged man answered the door.
"Hello sir! I'd like to offer my holy services to you! I am under the impression that a vile Devil may visit this residence, you do understand that Devils are evil creatures, right? They may promise much, but they require your soul in return!" Freed exclaimed to the man at the door. The man seemed confused and yawned slightly.
"What do you mean, Father? The Devils don't want my soul. I just need that dark haired girl to read a bedtime story to my son. My wife's on a business trip this week. He won't let me do it. Actually, what are you doing here?" The man asked. Freed sighed and drew a gun from under his coat. He pointed it at the man and kept it from Asia's sight.
"Alright, that's it."
"Look here mister, wait, who said that!?" Freed claimed, whirling around. He searched around, and saw nothing. Asia looked around as well for the source of the voice. The man at the door shrugged and closed his door. Freed stepped back out onto the street with his weapon at the ready. He drew a hilt out from his coat as well and it ignited into a blade of light.
"Father Freed, what's going on, who said that?" Asia wondered, terrified as she hid behind the wall around the home's front yard.
"Shut up you little fuck! Hey, whoever said that, you better show yourself! You need to meet God!" Freed shouted. He searched the houses across the street. He searched the rooftops and glanced down each which way he could. Asia gasped behind him and he whirled around and froze.
"I did." Zebulon said, his voice echoing from under his helm. It was distorted just enough to obscure his normal tone. He towered over Freed, arms crossed, staring him down with the beady dragon eyes of his helmet. He could see Freed trying to understand his situation and growled in anger.
"Who are you!? Wait a second… no… are you the one Raynare lost? Impossible. What reason would you have to be here?" Freed wondered, pointing his gun at Zebulon. Zebulon reached out and gripped the barrel before crushing it in his grip. Freed's eyes widened as he pulled his gun free and the crumpled firearm fell to the ground. Zebulon stared at him, unfazed.
"I am Titan, Dominator of Death. You're going to let the nun go, run back home, and take your Fallen Angel friends and leave this place. If you do not, I fear I may have to use force." Zebulon demanded. He shivered. He disliked violence. It made him queasy. But in this situation, he felt prepared, ready to throw down, if it meant doing what he felt was right. Freed growled in anger and swung his sword. It slammed into Zebulon's armor and just bounced off.
"Fuck you! Who are you to tell me what to do!? Are you protecting those Devil pussies? Want the nun for yourselves so you can be more powerful?" Freed shouted, swinging again. Zebulon growled and simply slapped the blade out of the way. Freed's wrist bent oddly from the blow and he lost his grip. The blade flew from his hand and hit the ground, going out and clattering to a stop several feet away.
"I am not affiliated with the Devils, nor the Heavens. I am beyond them. You and your companions are the problem. You intend to intimidate innocents into helping you kill Devils for personal gain. Said personal gain also being the Sister's powers of healing. A goal which will, inevitably result in her death. I will not allow it." Zebulon stated, growing more annoyed with Freed the longer he had to look at him. He was running out of patience, but he still could not bring himself to strike the man.
"What will it take to make you disappear?"
"Fuck off! Come on, do it, try and kill me! Those Fallen are a lot more powerful than you might think! Seriously, what the hell do you want with that little bitch? Oh, I see, need a little cumdump for your Devil friends!? What do you think I was going to do before we got done with her!? HAHAHA-" Freed's maniacal laughter was cut off as Zebulon's armored fist crashed through his face and sent him sprawling across the street, blood flowing from his shattered nose.
"SILENCE! You disgust me… if you will not heed my warning…" Zebulon trailed off. He shuddered. Freed was still reeling from the blow. The man was not dead.
H-holy… shit… I hit him. But he's not dead… okay… okay… just keep going. He clearly is too stupid to see how this will not go his way.
"Ugh… damn… you hit like a truck…" Freed sputtered, spitting out blood as he slowly sat up. Zebulon was about to approach when he felt a weight on his left wrist. He looked down to see Asia holding onto him.
"Please wait, Mister Titan! Please forgive Father Freed, there is no need for violence!" Asia exclaimed. Her innocent stare softened Zebulon and he sighed. He crouched down to her level and looked into her eyes.
"I am of a mind with you, Sister. However, it seems this man is not going to cooperate. You must believe me; he and the Fallen Angels intend to steal your power. He pulled his gun on that innocent man. What man of God endangers a life in such a manner? I apologize, but I fear I must beat the teachings of modesty and kindness back into him." Zebulon said, gently pulling himself free from her grasp. Asia, shocked, turned and stared at Freed as he stood up. Freed laughed.
"He's right you know. I just needed you to keep me safe while I killed those fucking Devils… but now that's out the fucking window! Thanks a lot, you giant shit-eating fuck!" Freed shouted and scrambled to grab his sword. Zebulon stood up and turned to face him.
"Apologies, Sister, but you may not want to watch this." Zebulon said and stalked towards Freed. The man managed to grab his sword and ignite it, but not before Zebulon caught him and grabbed him by the throat. He steadied his breathing as he picked Freed up and simply slammed him back down into the concrete. Freed gasped as the wind was knocked out of him and Zebulon left him on the ground, placing his boot on his chest.
"Four Fallen Angels incoming. One on your six."
"Well, this is interesting." A familiar voice said behind Zebulon. Before he cracked Freed again, he glanced behind him and saw an all too recognizable aura in the sky. Raynare was floating behind him. He cursed his luck and punted Freed down the street. He stepped back towards the house to put himself between Asia and Raynare.
Son of a bitch… what am I even doing!? I don't know how to fight… throwing Freed around was the most violent I've ever been… Now this bitch is here again! Why did I get involved in this? Fuck… fuck… fuck… Zebulon felt his panic rising. He did not anticipate Raynare showing up. In fact, he did not even think about how he was going to scare Freed off. He had hoped his overwhelming size and strength would do it, as per usual.
This is going right off the fucking rails! WHY DID I FUCKING DO THIS!?
"Oh no… Lady Raynare… please… no…"
Zebulon stopped mid-breath. He turned and glanced at Asia. She was shaking, with fear plaguing her visage. Her eyes watered. She looked like his sisters. Even worse, she looked just as scared as they had been back then. Back when things went wrong. Zebulon felt his mind grow focused and his panic died out.
No… No, this is different. Fate handed me ultimate power on a silver platter… Rakon wants to know what I'm capable of. What I can do. If I can make a difference. If I can unravel why Rakon is willing to chose me, why I'm suddenly a part of this ungodly world… Then I can use this power to do what's right.
"My, I think you're the one that got away from me. That aura you give off is so similar. But I can't sense your power. Impressive…" Raynare said with a wicked smile. She was suddenly flanked by three more Fallen Angels. Another busty woman, the fedora man, and a girl in an oddly gothic dress.
"Oh great, now there's four of them." Zebulon grunted under his breath. He felt his nerves steady and he relaxed his stance.
"Kalawarna, Dohnaseek, Mittelt, meet the Big Boy. I'm quite sure he's the one that got away with that oh-so-powerful magic stowed within him. Looks like he's gotten the hang of it." Raynare said, licking her fingers as the four created light spears. Dohnaseek stepped forward and brandished his spear.
"You, you're interfering in our affairs. Leave now, or be destroyed." Dohnaseek threatened, glaring at Zebulon. Zebulon felt his eye twitch and he glared back under his armor. He then realized what Raynare had said and wished to die from embarrassment.
Oh fuck, they think I actually know how to use my magic… uh, Eva, how do I actually use Rakon's power? Or mine? Whatever! HELP!
"Be at ease, Titan. You can feel the power you wield, yes? Without the Armor, it would be extremely difficult to summon the power granted to you by Lord Rakon, however, you only need to think of what you wish to do, and allow the Armor, and myself, to take over and use the integrated weapons and targeting systems. Once we are clear of danger, you can practice manifesting these powers outside of the Armor. For now, your will shall be done." Eva said encouragingly. Zebulon breathed a sigh of relief and thanked the Technomancers of Aventon-5.
"Hold on, Dohn, we have no idea what he's capable of. We need to be careful." Kalawarna said, taking off into the air. Zebulon watched them carefully and used his targeting functions to lock onto all four of them while keeping tabs on Freed. It seemed the priest was unconscious. Zebulon readied himself. He was actually about to get into a fight.
I'm not ready for this shit… I've never really fought anyone before… but I did wrestle. All I need to do… is pin them. Somehow. Ah shit… THAT CONVERTING SKILLS SHIT ONLY WORKS IN THE MOVIES! Zebulon thought, still somewhat panicked. He gritted his teeth and stayed planted. He wanted to run. He wanted no part of it. But he could hear her. Asia. She whimpered behind him.
"Be careful… Mister Titan."
"Oh, Titan, is it? What a strong name… I wonder, do you live up to it? Or are you going to run away again?" Raynare asked as she hovered just twenty yards from him. Zebulon ignored her comment. He was not going to run. He would not allow it.
I want to target their wings… that'll disable their flight. Then I'll have the advantage in close quarters. I doubt any of them can match my strength in this suit, right…?
"Understood, engaging all offensive weapons systems. Chaos Flame cannons are at your disposal, as are the Ion Rockets. Unfortunately, you will not be able to use Lord Rakon's true power, however, this magic and these weapons will effectively eliminate your targets."
Uh-huh… Zebulon dug his boot into the concrete. It was on. Dohnaseek launched his spear and Zebulon simply smacked it out of the air. He raised his left hand, without knowing what it would do, and a powerful orange energy built up in his palm. It fired off almost like a laser and smacked Dohnaseek square in the chest. He screamed as he was engulfed in a massive fireball and crashed into the side of the road.
Oh shit… what the hell was that!?
"A Chaos Flame cannon blast! Now watch out!"
Zebulon ducked as Raynare launched a spear at him. He locked onto her and from his shoulders popped out two small rocket pods. Two rockets launched from either and screamed towards her. Raynare cursed and tried outmaneuvering the rockets, but they were fast and met their mark. The rockets exploded in a bluish, electric energy and damaged her wings. She hit the ground. Two down.
"What the-!? Bastard!" Kalawarna shouted and threw several spears at him. Zebulon caught one and smacked the others away with it. He then shattered it in his grip as she reformed two more in her hands. He raised his right hand and fired off another cannon blast. She avoided it as he launched two rockets at her as well. Noticing the rockets, she managed to duck them and they slammed into each other. The blast still caught her and slammed her into the ground. Mittelt looked on in horror as all three of them struggled to get back up from his attacks. Kalawarna stood first and glared daggers at him.
"Like I told Freed, leave this place. This is your only warning." Zebulon said coldly. He felt confident, but it wavered as Raynare and Dohnaseek both regained their bearings. Dohnaseek was badly burned, and Raynare's wings were heavily damaged.
Dammit… This isn't good… I already feel kind of drained… am I that weak?
"Unfortunately, your body is not yet accustomed to using your power. The Armor draws on your magic energy to use its weapons. Unless Lord Rakon releases the full extent of his power to you, which is only half of his true power, your smaller magic supply is all the Armor can use. I apologize, I should have told you sooner, however, these Fallen are proving to be stronger than anticipated. You are still safe within the armor, but your offensive capabilities are dwindling." Eva explained. As she did so, another burst of magic was detected behind him. Zebulon cursed his luck and quickly rushed to Asia. He again put himself in between her and whatever was coming.
"Great, the Devils are here…" Raynare muttered as she regrouped with the others. Zebulon watched the red magic die down as four figures materialized from the portal. Two of which he recognized all too well. One of them leveled a yellow magic circle at him as it radiated from her hand.
A-Akeno… Zebulon shuddered as she leveled her magic at him. He already knew she was a Devil, but it still hurt to see her glaring at him so heatedly.
No, stop thinking like that… she thinks you're a potential threat.
"Well, well, this is quite the situation. Four Fallen Angels in my territory… three of whom are injured… and a curious third party. Am I to assume you were battling them, Dragon?" Rias wondered, glancing over at Zebulon. He sighed and looked at Asia. He grinned under his helm and gave her a thumbs up. She was scared, but his small gesture put her at ease for some reason. He stood tall and disabled any visible weapons.
"Hold there, Devils. I am not your foe. I have no intention of interfering in your business or attacking you. I am Titan, Dominator of Death, and I am here because these Fallen are planning on using this nun for their own personal gain. I could not allow such a transgression to simply occur." Zebulon stated, holding his hands out. Akeno continued to keep her magic trained on him. Though she rose a curious brow. Rias eyed him for a moment before returning her attention to the Fallen Angels.
"Hmm. I am curious as to why you four think you can simply operate in my territory. What do you want?" Rias demanded. She tapped her foot expectantly. Zebulon had to stop himself from chuckling. It seemed to him that Rias was just as strong and confrontational in any situation. He found her commanding presence quite admirable. But as she awaited an answer, Zebulon's sensors noticed Freed moving again. He glanced up and saw the priest has somehow gotten onto the rooftops.
Ah shit…
Zebulon kept watching as Freed drew closer to Rias and her friends. Soon enough he was above them, sword in hand. It seemed that they did not notice him, or if they did, they did not acknowledge it. Zebulon chose to believe the latter and raised his hand.
"Hey!"
"What the-!?"
"DIE, DEVIL SCU-AHHHHHHHHH!"
Freed screamed as a fiery blast engulphed him and knocked him clear off of the rooftop. He slammed into the dirt, unconscious as his body roasted in the flames for a moment before they went out. Zebulon slowly lowered his hand and crossed his arms. Akeno blinked in surprise at him.
"Goddammit… only that idiot could fail to pull off a sneak attack. Fuck it, we're pulling out! Someone grab that idiot… leave the nun!" Raynare ordered suddenly. Her companions reacted swiftly, Dohnaseek jumped over and grabbed Freed as he rejoined his retreating companions. They grabbed whoever could not fly and started ascending into the sky.
"Hey! I was not done with you! Get back here!" Rias shouted and fired off an orb of dark red energy at the retreating force. Just as it reached them, they vanished from the sky and her attack dissipated into the air. It was now just them and Zebulon. Silence persisted for a moment as the four turned their full attention to him. He did not recognize the small, white-haired girl, or the light-blonde haired boy. But the girl had what appeared to be MMA gloves on, and the boy had a sword strapped to his hip. Then he realized they were also wearing Kuoh uniforms.
Oh, for fuck's sake… this is what her club is? A front for Devil stuff? I should've put two and two together a bit sooner but- aw shit, she's approaching me… Zebulon's thoughts trailed off as Rias stepped towards him. She eyed Akeno and then stared him down. Akeno lowered her hands and the magic vanished. He tagged the other two with his sensors and ran scans.
"So, Titan, is it? What is your business here, if not to interfere with ours? Did you simply intervene on the plans of those Fallen simply out of the goodness of your heart?" Rias wondered. Her stare was icy and did its best to cut through him. Zebulon breathed in and carefully put together his response.
"I did, actually. I have no ulterior motives, if that is what you seek to understand. I am not your enemy." Zebulon stated confidently. He was telling the truth, though he assumed he was hard to read under his helmet. Rias glanced between him and Asia. Asia stepped behind him and hid her face in his cape.
"If that is the case, then who do you work for? The Church? Another Devil family? One of the Gods?" Rias wondered. She eyed him up and down. Her stared still tried to break him. Zebulon blinked as he realized something.
I really just decided 'oh hey, I have unimaginable power, might as well go fuck something up and get myself into an inexplicable mess.' I'm so fucking stupid…
"I… I am not affiliated with any faction. I work alone." Zebulon said. He felt like the coolest guy in the world with that line. Rias raised a brow at him.
"I doubt that. So much raw power, yet you answer to no one? Are you a part of the Hero Faction, perhaps? If you were, I would think you would have attacked by now. This does not make any sense. Where did you come from? I should have been aware of such a powerful entity in my territory." Rias said, rubbing her chin. Zebulon detected a hint of deceit in her words. It was in the way she spoke and how she glanced at Akeno. The way she shifted her stance. Something was off.
Did they also know about my power before I did? Because Raynare clearly did. Otherwise, she would not have bothered with me… right? But if she knew, and probably knew about the Fallen Angels… then… Zebulon suddenly remembered Eva's warning. His eyes widened.
"It would appear so. Before my directives forced me to override you and activate the Dragon Death Knight Armor, it is certain that Rias detected your power and, potentially, her interest in you was due to the power which you carry."
Zebulon felt like his heart was stabbed with one of the Fallen Angel's light spears. He shuddered as realization befell him like a dying star. The last ten or so days shattered like glass as he recalled the moments he spent with Rias and Akeno. Rather than feeling like he was stabbed in the chest, he felt the blow come from behind. His knees felt weak and his breathing became shallow.
No… all of that, just because of this power? Is everyone in this supernatural-shit-show a selfish bastard? Is that all this is about? Whether God, Satan, or fucking who knows what else has all the power under their control? What a fucking sham… Zebulon felt rage building under the feeling of duplicity. He clenched his fists and stared forward. He met Rias's eyes. She flinched, ever so slightly.
It's always that… 'hey, I need you because you're strong,' 'hey, I need you because you're rich,' 'hey man, your sister is pretty hot…' 'hey man, come to our party, be our friend while we talk shit about you in the back…' 'hey man, I'm gonna fuck your sister'… Zebulon relived the memory of punching that boy in the head. His hands began shaking. He looked down at the armor on his body. He felt disgusting.
"It matters not… I will be going now. Sister, would you like to come with me?" Zebulon asked, turning to Asia. She looked up at him in admiration. He felt his nerves settle. He smiled under his helm.
"Excuse me, I am not done with you!"
"Well, I'm done with you!" Zebulon snapped, turning to look at Rias. She blinked in shock as he turned back to Asia.
"W-What am I going to do? I cannot go back to the Church… and Lady Raynare wants to use me…" Asia mumbled. She seemed to be in a bit of shock. Zebulon knelt down and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"We'll figure it out. Come, you'll be safe, I promise." Zebulon said quietly and offered his hand. Asia accepted it cautiously and he deployed his wings. He glanced over at Rias, then to Akeno, and his heart sank.
Was it all for nothing? Making me feel liked?
Zebulon then took Asia up in his arms and took off into the sky. He was not pursued.
Crossworth Highrise, Downtown Kuoh…
Zebulon landed just around the corner, out of the sight of the cameras. He sighed as he let Asia down and knelt before her. His mind was still swirling. He knew he needed to remove his armor so they knew it was him, but how would Asia react?
"Mister Titan, are you okay?" Asia asked, placing her small hand on his head. She smiled at him and Zebulon nodded.
"I'm fine. Miss Asia, I need you to trust me, okay?" Zebulon asked. Asia smiled and nodded.
"Of course. God must have sent you to rescue me… or perhaps, you felt God's love and knew you needed to… either way, you were like a guardian angel. I never knew Lady Raynare has such terrible plans for me…" Asia said quietly, her eyes watered. Zebulon smiled and suddenly disengaged his armor completely. He was wearing his normal street clothes, minus the shorts which were replaced with jeans.
"Well, when I met you, I realized something was a bit fishy and I couldn't help myself. Hi again, Asia, it's me." Zebulon said with a grin. Asia stared at him in shock. She gasped and held her hands over her mouth. Then, she suddenly lunged forward and wrapped her arms around his neck. Surprised, Zebulon took a moment to hug her back. She began sobbing into his shoulder.
"I knew it! I just knew you were a blessing… I knew I was not forgotten. I… I can't even begin to thank you…" Asia cried. She was getting loud and Zebulon panicked a bit. He patted her head and shushed her.
"Hey, easy… It's alright. We can trust each other, okay? I listened in on you at the church earlier… you remind me so much of my sisters… I couldn't stand by… but… ah, it's fine, you're safe." Zebulon whispered and tightened his grip. Asia leaned back and gently held his face. She giggled and rested her forehead on his.
"I knew it from the moment you helped me today. Somehow, I knew I'd see you again. I didn't expect you to be a superhero though!" Asia giggled. She gently rubbed his jawline and Zebulon sighed.
"I'm not a hero… I'm just a dumb kid that was handed some powers…" Zebulon sighed. He released Asia and stood up, a warm but forced grin on his face. Asia lost her giddiness and looked up at him in concern.
"What do you mean? Y-You just saved my life…" Asia said, placing a hand on his arm. Zebulon chuckled and shook his head.
"Maybe we'll talk about it tomorrow. Come on, you can stay here for now. My family owns this complex. You'll be safe here until we can figure out what to do next. C'mon." Zebulon said, ushing Asia around the corner. Confused, Asia complied and followed him. They made their way towards the high-rise next door and walked inside. The woman behind the reception counter looked up and her face split into a wide smile.
"Zebulon! It's good to see you, oh, and who's this?" Jia wondered, glancing past him at Asia. Zebulon grinned and gently pushed Asia in front of him.
"This is Sister Asia Argento. She's a nun and needs somewhere to stay. I offered to let her stay here since the church in town is pretty run-down and not very safe. I hope that's alright. She isn't exactly able to afford to stay, but I'll cover it if I have to." Zebulon said with a guilty grin. He reached for his wallet but Jia shook her head.
"Zebulon, you know you don't need to do that. We will happily house Sister Asia for as long as we need to. Let me alert the staff to get an apartment ready for her. Does she have a lot of luggage?" Jia wondered, tapping away at her computer. Zebulon kept his grin up but felt his brain collapse slightly.
Ah shit, I forgot her stuff…
"Uh, not a lot but um… it's still at the church for now. Like a fool I forgot to help her get her things and just waltzed her over here! I'll be sure to have it delivered tomorrow. Don't worry, Asia, they have some things for you to wear in the meantime. Full laundry service, room service, a pool, gym, etcetera… If she needs anything with a price on it, bill me." Zebulon said and patted Asia on the head. Asia simply glanced between him and Jia with surprise and shock. She suddenly bowed her head.
"Thank you so much for your kindness! Your charity is much appreciated!" Asia exclaimed and hugged Zebulon again. He grunted at the impact and blushed a bit. Despite her small size, Zebulon knew she was almost his age thanks to a certain AI. Jia smiled at him.
"You're in good hands, Sister. Zebulon here is the best. If there's anyone in this city to look up to, it's him. And, of course, his father." Jia said kindly. Zebulon shook his head at her as Asia released him.
"Literally or…?" Asia trailed off and began giggling. Jia laughed a bit as she walked out from behind the reception desk. Zebulon sighed.
"Both. So, if you would follow me, we're preparing a spot for you now. It's not as big as the top floor apartments, but I think it will suit you just fine." Jia said, handing Asia a key. Asia glanced between Jia and Zebulon.
"Go on, I've got to get home. I'll come by tomorrow, I promise. Jia, let me know when she's settled in and what apartment she's in, okay?" Zebulon said, giving Jia a thumb-up. Jia nodded as he winked at her. Robert did not need to know. Asia hung her head a moment before stepping towards Jia. She looked up with a big smile.
"Thank you, Zebulon… you really are my hero." Asia said. With that, she happily followed Jia over to the elevator and began speaking about God and His blessings again. Zebulon kept his grin until the elevator door closed. He then turned on his heel and headed towards the back of the room. He walked up to a code door and punched in the pin code. He entered and walked down the hall until he came to the office of the head of security. He knocked.
"Come in."
"Hey John, long time no see." Zebulon said as he entered the office. A bulky, bald man with a scar over his left cheek sat behind the desk. The man yawned and kicked back in his seat. The office was dark and had firearms all over the walls. A large TV with many of the building's cameras on it was displayed on the wall behind Zebulon's head.
"Zebulon, what can I do for you?" John asked. The man was straight to the point as always. Zebulon respected him for his straightforward attitude and trustworthiness. He glanced at the cameras for a moment before pointing to the one with Jia and Asia on it in the hallway upstairs.
"That nun, I need you to ensure she's as safe as can be here. No one gets to see her unless it's me. If she wants to go out, let me know. Someone wants to hurt her, that's why I brought her here. I'm not sure what's going on, all I know is that she's in danger. Until that's resolved, I don't want anyone touching a fucking hair on her head." Zebulon said. His face was dead serious as he stared at John. John, without even blinking, nodded and grinned.
"Done. That all?" John wondered. Zebulon nodded and reached for a handshake. John sat up, then stood and shook Zebulon's hand. John was almost the same size as Zebulon and just as tall.
"Yes. Please contact me immediately if something happens. Take it easy." Zebulon said and went to leave the office. John nodded again and sat back down.
"Oh, is it okay if I-"
"Yes, John. If someone tries to hurt her, kill them."
With that, Zebulon left and started heading home.
Home…
Zebulon collapsed face-first into his mattress. He was exhausted. Between the physical and emotional tolls he paid today, he could barely make himself take his jeans off. He slowly sat up in his bed and sighed. He looked as his right hand. It began shaking. He took a deep breath and checked his phone as it went off.
'Secure.' A text from John. Zebulon breathed a sigh of relief and slowly got ready to go to bed. He changed out of his street clothes and glanced over at his mirror. He looked just as tired as he felt.
Dad was right to take Mr. Everest's recommendation seriously… and here we are. What the fuck am I doing? I'm not a fucking hero… I'm just a goddamn coward… a coward that's too nice for his own good… I could barely bring myself to hit Freed who threatened Asia like… that. Look at where being nice has gotten me again… just used for something. Well, almost used… Zebulon thought as he laid down in bed. He rolled onto his side and stared off into the darkness of his room.
I shouldn't care so much… she didn't care about me. Akeno probably doesn't either… Zebulon closed his eyes. He saw darkness. A small, dim, pink light shined in the back of his mind.
If I don't care… then why does it hurt so fucking much all the time?
Zebulon slowly fell asleep, succumbing to his exhaustion as tears wetted his pillow.
Whoa boy, that was fast. It's been a while since I made chapters this fast. Sorry, I know, it's a long one. Hopefully y'all are enjoying this so far, I hope I can keep going on this one. Also, if you think he's too strong already, well, let's just say you haven't seen anything yet. I also don't care, this is fun.
Right, don't forget to breathe, everyone. See you next time.