Don't You Hesitate

His hand lashed out and blocked a Light Spear from Raynare with Setan Kober.

Not surprising, nor even out of the ordinary. It was a spar like any other he'd had with her. Joshua was in testing mode though, checking the changes that Greater Demonic Element brought to the table, just like how he'd tested Greater Holy Element when it got upgraded. It was less training and more just checking what his weapons and him could do.

All in all, it was about what he'd expected.

That was unexpected in its own way though. After all, the System seemed almost intent on throwing curve balls at him every chance it got, those days. This particular instance wasn't one such case though, at least. Thank God for small mercies, he supposed.

All in all, Holy and Demonic Element did more or less the same even after they got upgraded. Holy boosted Carnwennan's overall capabilities a fair bit while Demonic both boosted Setan Kober's and reduced the side effects. Which was nice, even if he hardly noticed those effects most of the time, considering Mind Resistance. Joshua still found it reassuring that the rage induced by his kris was diminished.

He rather liked having a clear mind, especially in a fight.

"Let's pick up the pace, yeah?" he asked and immediately he felt the shift in energies in Raynare. She didn't increase her power, nor did she start using Incinerate Anthem, but she did use her magic to boost herself. Perks of being an angel, he supposed. Supernatural creatures were more in tune with magic as a whole, so not only were they biologically stronger, but they could increase the gap even more through magic too.

No wonder everyone looked down on humans, Joshua mused. They had none of the advantages that everyone else seemed to have. They might as well be monkeys in a society of humans. They stood out, they were different and they were "lesser".

Be that as it may though…

He pushed a Light Spear away and then swiftly delivered a kick to Raynare's stomach, sending her off and knocking the air out of her lungs. Joshua was no normal human, after all, so he guessed it was fine. Being underestimated was annoying, but it worked in his favor in fights. It even worked against other humans, funnily enough.

"More," he said, Setan Kober and Carnwennan all but singing in his hands. It might be a spar, but it was a spar where they were the center of attention. He wasn't using as much magic or Egyptian abilities as he usually did, which was something they appreciated. He probably should have, but he'd leave that for later.

Boost or not, it was still a change that he had to get used to, after all. Any shift in his regular fighting had to be accounted for. Just because it was an improvement didn't mean that it couldn't negatively affect his fighting. After all, he was used to fighting a certain way and contrary to slow but steady progress, a sudden boost could change everything.

It was part of the reason why he wasn't keen on using Egyptian channeling all that much, since it made everything vary a lot. Then again, those usually came with boosts to his reflexes and perception and such things, which just about evened things out.

Greater Demonic Element and Greater Holy Element came with no such benefits.

So, he'd have to train quite a bit so that he could get used to the new specs, as it were. Good thing that Raynare was eager to train and Kuroka was… Well, she didn't mind sparring, even if she'd rather not. The nekoshou didn't half-ass things when he asked for help, so he'd cut her some slack for the lack of enthusiasm.

Speaking of though…

"You've gotten used to your new body," he commented during one of his standoffs with Raynare, after he blocked her attacks once more. Her violet eyes were slightly narrowed, brows furrowed in frustration despite her good performance. They were much more even if she went all out… if he didn't channel deities or his spells. All in all though, Joshua considered that pretty damn strong. However…

"I'm not strong enough," Raynare hissed. Her aggression wasn't directed at Joshua though. It was just her, projecting her annoyance at the fact that she was "weak". Joshua wondered what she considered "strong enough" though. Beating him? He doubted that, although it could be partially that. Maybe she just wanted to be stronger than everyone?

Maybe not even she knew what she was looking for.

"Well, I can do something about that," he commented, almost casually, making the fallen freeze. She very likely realized what he was talking about. "Too soon for that though. I need to do more preparation and you need to grow into your new self. No telling what'll happen if I give you more wings while you're on the lower side of the four-winged class."

"I understand," Raynare replied stiffly, curtly. She took a deep breath in then and nodded firmly. He grinned at her. If nothing else, she was determined to see his project reach its full potential and it was nice to have that. He rather suspected it probably helped ease the process, that she was more than willing. "Shall we continue?"

He was pretty much done testing the daggers now with both Perks upgraded. However, that didn't mean he had to stop, really. Glancing to the side, he saw Kuroka and Jeanne struggling to keep his familiars entertained. They were going to be at it for a while, so…

"Might as well," he commented with a grin that Raynare mirrored.

'It's never not gonna be weird that I get along with this crazy woman,' he mused, but that thought only amused him further. His life had certainly taken many, many strange turns. It was probably not even close to done with those too, but he was getting used to them. Or so he thought, at least.

Mentally shaking his head, he twirled both of his daggers and took his stance, waiting for the fallen to charge.

And charge she did.

[}-o-{]

"I have to admit, this isn't what I thought you'd want to see… or even be close to," Joshua commented, looking at the fountain in front of them.

"I respect the artist for making it," Gabriel told him, a drink between her hands that they'd gotten from a nearby stall while Joshua had one for himself. They'd gotten different flavors and swapped them to try both every so often. "It's beautiful, and also… powerful. It has called to me ever since I heard about it but never quite gathered the will to actually come until now. I don't quite know why I like it myself, I'll admit, but I'm impressed by it."

"It is impressive, that's true," he agreed with a nod. There was something about the expression, the pose, the symbolism and meaning of the statue. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he did get the general feeling that Gabriel was referring to. "I get it, even if I can't put words to it myself either."

"Art tends to be like that," the angel told him with a slight smile. "I think this is rather sombre for a date though, but I'm glad we came."

"He was your brother," he commented, looking at the Fuente del Ángel Caído, the Fountain of the Fallen Angel. "Were you close?"

"We all were, are, even, even with those that have… fallen from grace, or grown distant. We are a family, dysfunctional as it might be," Gabriel said with a sad smile. "A lot has happened. Our history is anything but simple or nice, but… We are family all the same. Just like he was."

"You can't choose it," he commented, thinking of his own family troubles. Then again, those were nothing in comparison to Gabriel's. Not even in the same multiversal range, he supposed. Literally even. They were better than him – as was expected from angels –, because he definitely wouldn't call himself close to most of his family members.

"I think there's better places for what comes next, yes?" Gabriel asked and he blinked, turning and tilting his head towards her. "Subtle, you are not, Joshua. At least not when it comes to social settings," she added amused and fond.

Well, there went the surprise, he supposed.

Then again…

"You women talk about entirely too many things," he commented, already guessing what had happened. It wasn't even the first time, after all. "Why do you have to ruin things?"

"Ruin? Hardly," the angel told him with a slight giggle as she turned and they walked away from the fountain. She wasn't wrong that it was rather sombre, all things considered. It was important to her to see it and she'd been the one to suggest going there in the first place, but still. Not quite what either of them wanted to stick around during a date, he was sure. "I've been looking forward to this ever since I heard about it."

"And laughing behind my back, I bet," he commented jokingly. A part of him was serious, admittedly, but he was trying not to be too self-deprecating and let his self-esteem issues dictate how he acted and thought. He wasn't too successful, but he was trying.

"Not at all. We all think it's sweet," Gabriel told him as they moved, smiling warmly at him. "We are, admittedly, rather curious about this seeming mystery behind it, but we can wait. I have to say, I'm more curious about what you chose for me."

Joshua rolled his eyes at her, but he was already thinking of how to tell them.

That was something for Future Joshua to deal with.

He had other things to do, like actually getting on with it.

"Well, initially, I was going to go with white," he commented, bringing a hand up to rub the back of his neck. "But that felt… too easy, lazy," he added, and the fact that Gabriel was hanging onto his every word wasn't helping his nerves, quite honestly. He soldiered through though. "I'm somehow less confident with the choice I made in the end, I'll admit, but I hope you won't burn them."

"Never," she said firmly, as if she were exceedingly offended by the joking comment. "Now, please? The suspense is killing me," she all but whined. Despite how composed she was though, Joshua couldn't help but see some tinges of childishness there, like Kunou would when he teased her a lot… but different, somehow. It was very cute and he made a mental note to try and cause that reaction more.

For the moment…

He took a deep breath in and raised his hand, casting a storage spell that produced a handful of flowers. He offered them to Gabriel wordlessly and the angel took them just as silently, gingerly too, as if afraid to damage the small bouquet. Her eyes, previously on him, locked in on the irises as if trying to burn their picture in her brain.

She seemed determined to make him as nervous as possible, apparently.

"Black irises," he started, stumbling over his own words a little as he tried to not focus on how he thought the color might be a mistake. "They mean elegance and sophistication, symbolize power and hidden confidence," he explained, finally finding the words and getting his tongue to work. "A tinge of mystery too, which… is what got me. Because all this… it's all unknown to me, scary almost, but… I'm glad I'll be exploring it with you."

There, he'd said it. Maybe a little rushed and maybe more nervous than he'd intended, but at least he'd managed. Try as he might, confidence hadn't come to him, but that was hardly surprising. He had managed to muster up some of that with Serafall and Yasaka on occasion, but it was going to take a while with Gabriel, just like it had with those two. Somehow though, the angel just brought out the worst of his non-existent social confidence.

It was all part of the experience, he supposed, even if some parts were more enjoyable than others.

"I love them," Gabriel said, still looking at the flowers. Joshua couldn't hope to read her expression nor her tone as she carefully touched some petals with her finger, but he decided to take her words at face value and be happy with the win. "I love the meaning you put in them and I'm sure I'll love whatever makes this a tradition of sorts for you," the angel added, finally turning towards him and smiling more warmly than ever, which was saying something.

He went to say something in return, but the words never quite formed

Instead, he felt her soft lips stopping his with a just as soft touch… until it wasn't so soft anymore, a chaste gesture deepening after a second or two… or an eternity, as far as he was concerned. Surprised as he might have been though, Joshua didn't hesitate too long to lean into the kiss himself.

"Don't look so surprised," Gabriel told him eventually, pulling back with a giggle. "I might be an angel, but that doesn't mean I have to be boring."

"You couldn't be boring if you tried," he replied, somewhat breathless, with an ease that felt almost alien to him. He couldn't say he didn't prefer that to his previously nervous self though. Especially with the exceedingly cute blush he got from the angel.

Maybe his mother had been onto something with her advice, he decided.

He was three for three, after all, shockingly enough.

[}-o-{]

Joshua was once more in Misla Bael's room, this time back at her – Sairaorg's? – place instead of at the hospital. She was doing better, there was no doubt of that. However, he didn't really need to check on her to be able to tell that much. The screen he'd gotten had confirmed that she was fine, well on her way to recovery.

However, he couldn't very well just tell Sairaorg that his mother was fine and call it a day. Besides, Joshua could always use some more information. So, he'd just taken to going for a visit, checking up on the woman just as thoroughly as he would have even without the screen and seeing the steady improvement. All in all, he couldn't say he was complaining about the fact that he already knew things were going well.

"Everything's in order," he commented, a slight smile on his face that widened a bit when he saw Sairaorg let out a breath he'd been holding and Misla beam at him. "Your soul's recovering still, of course, but it's doing better and better every day. You should be fine in about a week or so. No sign of the Sleep Disease coming back or even any other remnants left of its presence in you. I don't like giving absolute statements, but I believe you're cured, Misla, completely."

If anything, the responses he'd just gotten repeated, twice as strong as before.

"Thank you, Joshua. You have no idea how grateful I am," Sairaorg told him and Joshua just waved him off. Sure, he knew it was a big deal, but the devil was a friend. He didn't have many of those and he didn't mind helping at all. Besides, if it was a matter of payment, the fact that Zekram Bael was in his debt now more than made it all worth it. Sairaorg should just enjoy the results.

"Don't mention it," Joshua said, rolling his eyes. "I've told you it's fine. Always happy to help and besides, I'll get paid anyway, if that's what worries you," he added, much to the confusion of his friend. Misla seemed to know what he was talking about though, if the sudden change of her smile into a somewhat sad one was any indication.

"Yes, other patients will pay well, but still," Sairaorg said, clearly not knowing what he'd really been talking about. Joshua didn't mind letting him think that though. It wasn't quite the time to have that conversation, he supposed. Especially if everyone involved seemed content to let the situation be. Especially when Sairaorg was getting some of his happiness back. He could tackle the exceedingly weird family dynamics at some other time.

"Well, I did need to do a lot of experimentation for this to work. I'd call it even. I got a lot of data and practice and you got your mother back. There were no guarantees, after all," he said with a shrug. "Could have just as well gone badly, man," he reminded Sairaorg, but the devil seemed intent on arguing.

Fortunately, there was someone on Joshua's side.

"Sai, could you get me something to drink?" Misla said and it was like a switch had been turned in his friend's head. Immediately, anything else had been pushed aside and his whole attention was on his mother. Joshua couldn't blame him for that. His parents would have been his world if he could have them back for even a second.

"Of course, mom," Sairaorg said before excusing himself and going away.

"You won't convince him," Misla commented once her son left through the door and Joshua sighed. "Although, to be fair, I do believe he wouldn't change his mind even if he knew. He'd never allow his father and grandfather to pay a debt he considers his own," the woman added with a sad smile. "To a degree, I think the same, but I have a feeling that you wouldn't appreciate that."

"I did all this because I know what it's like to want a parent back and because he's my friend. I could do something about it and I did. Consider this a gift of sorts, if you will," he explained, getting a smile from Misla once more.

"You're a rare sight in the supernatural world then, maybe even the world," the woman told him, and he'd more or less already gathered as much. He wasn't sure where the whole debt and favors game came from, but he had a feeling that it was some twisted equivalent exchange perception of things. If you received something, then you needed to pay the price, as simple as that and no matter what.

"I'd consider your debt paid if you could help me with Sairaorg," he tried, because why not? If it worked, it worked, right? If nothing else, it got a laugh out of the woman, so that was a win.

"Deal," she replied, much to his surprise. "If only because that's going to be very difficult, so it might even be a high enough price to pay," she added and he almost felt like she was teasing him without even realizing. Was he really asking for so much?

He would never understand DxD people, he realized, not for the first time.

Any further conversation or pondering on the matter was interrupted by Sairaorg coming back, but Joshua wasn't sure if he minded. He was fairly sure that the only thing waiting for him at the end of that topic was a headache. He'd rather not deal with that, especially then.

[}-o-{]

"Seven out of ten," Joshua commented, entirely expecting the outraged reaction of his student. He was one of the problem ones, after all, those that had once had trouble respecting him. One of those that would grumble behind his back, about his classes, his methods, the Stars and many other things. He wasn't too clear on why they were in his courses at all, but they weren't troublesome enough for him to do something about it.

At least, not anymore.

"But it works! It's perfect!"

"First of all, just because it works doesn't mean it's perfect," Joshua told the student, holding back a roll of his eyes. "A seven is a passing grade. Hell, you only need a six to pass. You did well enough."

"What's the problem with it then?!" the student demanded and he didn't even bother stopping himself from sighing. It was going to be one of those days, he could already guess. He had a date with Serafall after class, so he'd rather not be delayed.

Thus…

"Good question and I'll direct that towards the students that are more sense capable," he said, glancing towards the rest of the class. Immediately, he saw almost all of them look away from him. There were some notable ones though, that instead stared at the hex foci, likely already focusing on the energies.

"Too weak?" one of them asked rather than asked.

"That your final answer?" Joshua asked and the man grimaced while he grinned. He liked to throw "trap" questions like that at times. Sometimes it'd mean that they were wrong, sometimes it'd be to test how sure they were even when they were right.

"Too chaotic?"

"Not chaotic enough?"

He raised an eyebrow at the pair that gave those hesitant answers. Friends, maybe? Maybe even a couple, for all he knew. It was amusing that they came to opposite answers almost at the same time and each was looking at the other like they were dumb. They were both wrong though.

"Too passive?" another voice commented and she sounded a little more sure than everyone else. "Hexes are wild, aggressive. This one feels too… tame?" she added hesitantly.

Joshua grinned at her.

"Exactly. It's not wrong for you guys to try and tame hexes, but the more you do so, the less effective they'll be. If you want a completely tame magic, you're better off just using wards instead. They are the perfectly tame version of hexes, sort of, so that's a better option if that's what you want," Joshua explained and several of the students were taking notes already. "Hexes are better at what they do when you allow them to be wild. It's more difficult to control them that way, but they'll work better the more free they are. So, yes, your hex work, but it's too tame for the purposes of this exercise," he said, turning towards the caster of the spell at the end.

Waving for him to return to his seat, Joshua continued with the class. Having some other students cast their own hexes and grading them. Not the whole class, since he didn't have the whole day, but also because he liked to have them try their casting in smaller groups. It gave him more time to address each attempt and also it meant that the students usually had more time to prepare in between attempts.

"And with that awesome piece of casting-," he praised, making the man that had just showed off his own spellwork beam at him. He'd gotten a nine out of ten; Very high for someone that wasn't a Star. "-we are done for today. You know what to do for next class already, so, I'll see you then. Do prepare well, those of you that need to cast, alright?"

"Yes, Professor Davis," many voices replied before the usual noise of everyone leaving filled the room.

"Mr. Davis?" Ravel called for his attention then, making him blink and turn towards her.

"Yes?" he asked.

"I just wanted to share with you my progress in regards to the Sitri situation," the Phenex told him, passing him a few sheets of paper with notes on them. Reading through, it seemed that she'd succeed in getting Raters interested in Sona's school. She hadn't even needed all that much persuasion with some of them too, which was a nice surprise. Either that, or she'd used the Phenex side to push for them to join in instead of pulling on his own strings in the matter.

Both options worked for him, really.

"Great work," he praised and the girl looked entirely too happy. It reminded him of Kunou quite a bit, really. Maybe he could cut her some slack for a bit, considering she was doing wonders at keeping his schedule somewhat functional despite the many things in it.

It was as good a time for that as any too, since he'd finished some things and opened some space in said schedule. He was done with the Sleep Disease, sort of. He'd finished Project Ascension's first step. He was done repairing Yasaka's defenses and was now just occasionally adding some new spells here and there.

"You've been doing really great work," he clarified, if only to be able to follow that up with his next words. "You can take a break from all this if you want. You've earned that much, for sure. If there's anything I can do for you, just say the word too. You've gone above and beyond what I expected when you started working for me," he told her, making the girl's eyes widen.

"Hm, I'll… I'll keep that in mind, sir," she replied hesitantly and he rolled his eyes.

"For now, how about some ice cream? My treat," he offered and the doubt was replaced with excitement.

She was a great secretary, but Ravel was evidently still a child at heart, it seemed.

[} Chapter End {]

Hey guys! How's it going?

Training Joshua, Dating Joshua, Helping Joshua, Teaching Joshua, we had all kinds of Joshuas in this chapter, huh? All of them fun, even if Dating Joshua will never not be a headache and incredibly awkward to write. At least you guys seem to think it's decent, so I'll take your word for it.

Some plans were derailed, but overall the chapter seems to be fine, so long as I didn't ruin the romance in it.

Here's hoping, and here's also hoping that you guys enjoyed the chapter.

As always, if you can't wait until next week for next chapter, there's up to three new chapters in my Pa tre on:

P a treon . com (slash) AdrianKing

Discord Link: discord .gg/UTDransjJZ

Random Question: F1 season is over. What do I even do with my life now?

See you.