Picking flowers was something that Adam fared poorly at. If it was Lilith, he knew that she could craft wonderful assortments with ease, singing beautiful melodies as she did so. But he was not his wife, so he had to make do. Yellow was a pretty color and so he had gathered as many yellow flowers as he could, tying them together into a…bouquet, yes that would be the word, with a string of vine.
"Good morning my son." Adam heard the familiar voice, like the sounds of thunder mixed with the soothing winds. His soul was alight with joy, a smile stretching across his face as he turned to see his Father walking with the Angel of Life by his side.
God, El Elyon, Adonia, Yahweh, Elohim, El Shaddai, Jehovah. His names were many, but when it was just the two of them, Adam always called him Father. Tall and thin, He was clad in a beautiful suit of white and gold with a cape that displayed galaxies slowly waving behind it. His face was like it was made of alabaster stone, with only a wide grinning mouth on it. A very tall hat sat atop His head with a golden cross emblazoned on the front, while four massive eyes floated by His head, the irises brimming with an almost painfully bright golden glow.
Next to him at nearly half his height, was Asherah, the Angel of Life who helped perpetuate God's order throughout creation. Just beneath an oval shaped halo, elk-like horns sprouted from the top of her head, surrounded by a flowing wave of long green hair that reached down to her ankles. Her skin was just as pale as his Father's was, and a wide grin sat on her face as well, though she had two pairs of eyes that blazed like burning emeralds. Wearing a dress made of leaves intertwined together, it dragged along the ground, seeming to constantly meld and unmeld with it.
"And look what we have here! Such a lovely assortment! Daffodils, dandelions, and even a sunflower! Lilith shall certainly enjoy it, of that I have little doubt!"
Adam's smile dimmed. "They aren't for her."
"Oh? Then who are they for? Sera? Emily?" God snickered, His eyes scrunched with delight. "Don't worry, I shall keep it a secret, for I would not wish to spoil the surprise." He rubbed his chin. "Though the sunflower is a little small. Asherah, if you would?"
"Your consort obeys." Asherah's grin turned into a smirk as she touched the sunflower that laid in the middle of the bouquet. The bright yellow flower grew nearly three times larger, becoming less yellow and more gold as it shined with a beautiful glow.
"I swear, the angels must not have anything better to do than to start those rumors." His Father scoffed. "I will admit, you are one of my finest creations Asherah! Just…please don't encourage them."
"Of course, of course." Asherah giggled, her voice like the sound of grass swaying. "Well, it was nice seeing you again Adam, but I really must get back to work. The other six Earths won't bring life to themselves!"
"Wait!" Adam said. Asherah still, quirking her brow as he struggled to get his words out. "I just…wanted to thank you. You didn't have to do that, and I know my friend will like it even more now."
"Friend huh?" Asherah snapped her fingers, a large yellow flower appearing in her hand. An Evening Primrose, Adam remembered naming it. Carefully, she set it in the middle of the sunflower, adding a little angelic touch to the bouquet. "I'm sure your…friend, will really enjoy it, though you'll need to tell me all about it when we meet again. Goodbye." And with a flash of light, she was gone.
"That one, I tell you." Father shook His head. "Almost as troublesome as Helel, but a fine angle all the same. As for you, Adam, won't you walk with me?"
"Of course." Adam smiled as he began to walk alongside his Father. They'd walked like this many times before since his creation. Even Lilith had stayed by their side a few times, but she'd soon hid herself away whenever Father came by.
A shame. Adam had quite liked when it was the three of them together, basking in the beauty of Eden. But after the previous argument…he honestly hoped that she didn't.
"Father?" Adam fiddled with his hands under the four-eyed gaze of God.
"Yes, my son?" Father asked.
"You are omniscient, right? Sera said that means you know everything." Adam bit his lip. "Do you…do you know if Lilith and I were really meant to be together? I try to love my wife, to do as you commanded, but Lilith doesn't seem to love me back. H-honestly, I think…I think she hates me and I don't know what to do anymore. I keep trying and trying but it always goes wrong and nothing ever works and-" He noticed Father staring at him. Was God offended by his doubts with Lilith's creation? Had Adam erred? Had he not been good enough?
Adam's words came out in a flurry as he began to panic. "I'm sorry Father, I didn't mean to doubt you, please forgive me, I'm sorry, I'm so-"
"Adam, it's okay." Father assured. "It has always been fine to question, for that is how we learn. I won't punish you for that." He sighed. "The situation with Lilith is…complicated. As your other half, she was meant to be with you, but sometimes, things do not go as one wishes. With my omniscience, I can see many futures in which the two of you reconcile with each other, growing to love one another with such passion that it burns brighter than the stars themselves. But in others…they simply do not. Creation merely is, Adam, and were I to force the two of you to love each other, then you would be little more than slaves, and I do not wish that for you."
"Is this one of those futures where we do not?" Adam asked.
"Maybe." Father admitted. "With each breath, with every blink, a new future emerges. But know this Adam, that even though neither of you are perfect, I do not regret creating you. I take pride in it, even, as did Sera when she helped create you. And one day, you shall know that same pride when you hold a life of your own creation in your hands."
"Even if it's not with Lilith?" Adam questioned. God's stare intensified, searing his soul as he felt the full weight of the Almighty's gaze. Four eyes narrowed as they searched for something, a vaguely alien yet wonderful sensation trailing through Adam's body as for a moment, the Holy Spirit filled him. And just as soon as it came, it left, leaving Adam with a hollow ache he desperately wished to fill with the fullness of God once more.
"Even if it's not with the First Woman." Father nodded his head, a strange smile on His face. "You were made in my image, Adam, and whether it be with the First Woman or another wife, that joy of creation shall not be kept from you. Have you come to love another?"
"I think so." Adam admitted. "But is it not wrong when I have a wife?"
"Marriage is built upon a seed of love. With time and effort, it may sprout into a bountiful harvest of love, or if neglected, whither and perish. Should Lilith not care for you, then she has neglected the seed, just as you would have if you did the same. You have tried to nourish it, but the seed has been planted in poor soil, and thus may be doomed should it not be tended to. You have given it your all my son, but it is up to Lilith whether she wants to nourish it."
"She doesn't want to." Adam's shoulders slumped. "She's made that clear enough."
"Then if she shall not listen to you or heed the warnings, then shake the dust off your feet and leave her. Either she shall wish for your love once more or she shall deny it and continue to wither. With freewill comes choice, even if it is to choose poorly, so do not take it as a condemnation of yourself is she rejects you. In time, you shall find the love of another."
"…I think I already have." Adam grinned. "She's pretty, nice, and she actually listens to me when I talk to her."
"Hmm, you know Sera loves you like a son, do you not? I do not think she shall take that confession particularly well." Adam sputtered as His Father laughed. "Or perhaps Jophiel? She is regarded as one of the most beautiful of my creations."
"Father…" Adam groaned.
"Alright, I shall stop teasing you." Father pointed at the pond they had come across, filled to the brim with fat golden koi. "Besides, I believe I've spoken enough about love. How has your naming come along?"
Adam lit up, continuing to speak to His Father as they walked side by side, gleefully talking about all the animals he'd named. And as the sun began to dip across the horizon, His Father leaving as it did so, Adam began his trek towards the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.
His Father was right. He'd tried time and again to nourish the seed of his marriage with Lilith, but she did not care one bit for it. And if she didn't care, then someone else would, or at least he hoped they did.
Flowers in hand, he approached the tree.
And in another dimension, Roo smiled.
AN: And so, Asherah appears! Never seen her in a Hazbin fic, but here she is! She'll be a lot more plot relevant later down the line, but just to get a glimpse of her role and what she does, I had her walk with God and Adam together. As for God, as you can see, he clearly knows what's going on, but figures that it'll work out in the end (I have his Omniscience be like the Almighty from Bleach, he can see a lot of futures and if one happens to be good enough, he'll roll with it even if his own shadow is trying to get her freak on with the First Man. Kind of utilitarian like that.) Also wanted to go into relationships and how it takes work to keep them going. Adam's putting in his all and getting nothing in return while Lilith gets both Adam's affection without having to give anything back (and actively cheating on him with Helel). Essentially, she's kind of a spoiled brat who enjoys the title and paradise that being the First Woman gets her, but doesn't want to actually put in the work, much like the first chapter showed. And if she isn't Roo will! Anyway, hope you enjoyed it! Next chapter is Eve's introduction, and the true yandere-ing of this fic!
And as always, you can read one chapter ahead on my p-a-t-r-e-o-n (Halo3vsloz)! Peace!