#(Husk protecting Angel from the vomit)

[furryrainbowscreature]

I’ve listened Loser baby 101 times and I’ve had a seizure 107 times

[shinynewboots]

Staring at the Sun / Adam x Lute Chapter 8

Summary: After the battle, Lute attempts to flee with Adam. They find themselves unable to return to Heaven and must adjust to life in Hell.

AN: Hi all! Very excited about this chapter, I really enjoyed writing it (I essentially had big word vomit today lol it's crazy how motivated I am to write when I am well-rested). I hope you guys enjoy it as well!

Warnings: 18+, Violence, gore, smut eventually, Adam-typical misogyny, alcohol use, slight sexual themes

Chapter 7

Chapter 9

Lute was almost certain that at this point in their tentative relationship with the Hell princess, Charlie would have been more than willing to help her and Adam to get to the Embassy. However, Lute also knew that this truce of sorts was contingent on the fact that she and Adam were here in Hell and unable to spearhead the Exterminations. Sure, Charlie was sunshine and rainbows and full of hope in all beings. The other residents of the hotel were not as trusting.

The Extermination Day countdown atop the Embassy that loomed over the city had ceased ticking after the failed extermination. The numbers had been replaced with question marks. Though Lute had no baseline for any sort of peace in Hell (as all of her prior visits were filled with chaos and carnage), the other residents had alluded to the fact that Hell was in a state of calm since it appeared that extermination no longer existed.

And there were political issues that Lute listened to when they were spoken about near her but did not give much thought to. Why should she? Her and Adam would be leaving this place of the damned soon enough. 

“Valentino’s been more on-edge than usual,” Angel sulked, nursing a cocktail. “Apparently none of the new sinners want to make a fucking deal with him and now he’s making it my problem.”

“Word on the street is that a lot of Overlords are getting antsy,” Husk offered, “Especially since the last extermination day. Lots of angelic weapons just out there in the open.”

“And why would that put an Overlord on edge? You’d think they jumping with fucking joy now that the big scary exorcists are nowhere to be found,” Adam scoffed, his curiosity begging him to join the conversation. 

Husk gave Adam a curious look as he cleaned the bar and looked between Angel and Adam. “No extermination day means less incentive to make a soul deal with an overlord. Who needs protection now if the biggest threat to eternal damnation has been chased off?”

Lute had packed a small backpack with supplies she thought they might need on their journey to the Embassy. While she did not anticipate a confrontation, this was Hell and constant vigilance was required. 

Her Egg Army had been useful in procuring weapons for her to pack. Fred had borrowed a knife made of angelic steel that had been left over from the extermination. The knife looks oddly familiar to the one that had been used to stab Adam but best not to look too much into it. Blue and Orange had found a pistol with angelic steel bullets. While Lute was unpracticed in the art of shooting, she knew she could make it work in a pinch. 

And Yellow. Simple Yellow had grabbed snacks from the kitchens that the pair could take on their journey. 

“Dude, good thinking,” Adam said, happily taking the snacks from the simple egg and packing them in their travel bag. Lute rolled her eyes as she loaded the pistol, the angelic steel bullets feeling oddly familiar in her hand. The Eggs had gathered in their room, looking expectantly up at her. Even Keekee must have sensed something was off, as she stood in the same lineup with the eggs.

“When are we leaving, Lieutenant?” Fred asked, a simple smile on his eggy features. 

“WE,” Lute said, pointing to herself and Adam, “Are leaving soon. You four are staying here.”

The eggs frowned and their eyebrows furrowed. “But when will you be coming back, Lieutenant?”

Lute sighed and looked over at Adam, who shrugged and reached down to give Keekee a scratch behind the ears. The cat purred in delight and rubbed her body against Adam’s leg.“Soon. But if anyone asks, we’re still here, right?���

The eggs nodded enthusiastically, pleasing Lute. “Alright, now scram.”

The eggs took their duty as minions very seriously and did just as their mistress asked, running out of the room in a haphazard waddle. Keekee followed similarly, chasing after the eggs.

“More like ‘scram’ble,'' Adam said as he stood up from his hunched position, laughing as he picked up the knife. He played with it in his hands, passing it back and forth between his fingers. He looked at himself in the reflection of the blade, his golden eyes reflecting like miniature suns. 

“Very funny,” Lute deadpanned. She pushed her hair behind her ears to keep it out of her face. It had grown quickly during her time in Hell and was closer to her shoulders than she could ever remember it being. Strands of hair caught in the metal pieces of her new arm, so she tugged until they broke free. 

She had been adjusting to her arm surprisingly well. She was very impressed by the details Asmodeous had added. She was able to feel sensation almost as well, if not better, in her metallic arm as compared to the original. It was also stronger and so Lute felt confident she would be able to hold her own if it ever came down to it. 

“Are you ready to go?’ She asked, throwing the back over her shoulders and wings. The wings had been a concern at first, as they worried they would be recognized by Sinners on their journey. However, after further thought they realized that no other sinners knew their true origins and there was such a variety in the makeup of sinners that they wouldn’t look too terribly out of place unless they began to bleed. 

“Yeah, I’m ready to get the fuck out of this place,” Adam said, walking towards her and putting the knife in his back pocket. “I do want to tell you something though, just in case.”

Lute frowned and turned to face him. “Just in case of what? Adam everything’s going to be fine and we’ll be back in Heaven before nightfall.”

“Just in case,” He said, grabbing her face in his large hands, similar to the way he had done after the fight with Vaggie. Golden met Golden, and Lute felt her heart sink into her stomach. “Something happens—”

“Adam nothing’s going to happen,” Lute argued, trying to shake her head though she failed spectacularly due to the gentle pressure Adam was placing on the sides of her head. 

“Lute, let me speak,” He said, his voice soft with a serious tone. Lute closed her mouth quickly. “I don’t know what’s going to happen when we get to the Embassy or if Heaven will even answer. Shit, I don’t know everything. But what I do know is if I had to be stuck in Hell with anyone, I’m glad it was with you. I lo-appreciate you, Lute. You’re my best friend.”

Lute’s mouth formed an O shape and suddenly the ability to speak no longer existed. Her mouth had run dry. Adam searched her eyes for a second before dropping his hands and pulling away from her, his body turned away from her. 

“Sorry, that got really mushy and gross. Just forget about it.” He said, his wings wrapping around his body.

 Lute felt as though she were an ice sculpture melting, and the ability to move, to think, to act was rapidly returning to her. She reached out for his shoulder with her new arm, intending to only give a small tug. However, she was still learning her strength with the appendage and so the gentleness became an almost forceful pull and Adam was brought face to face with her. His eyes were downcast and unable to meet her own. 

“Uh, no, no Adam, I won’t forget about it. I’m sorry, I’m not good at this,” She said, her hands motioning all around the room. “But I wouldn’t fight through the pits of Hell for anyone else. You mean so much to me, Adam.”

She watched Adam’s mouth curl up on the side, a small smile he seemed afraid to give into. His eyes have softened, and he is looking at her strangely. Suddenly, she finds herself engulfed in his strong arms and her body flush against his own. 

He is radiating the familiar heat that Lute has become accustomed to at night, in the dark where no one can see, and voiced thoughts become forgotten by morning. Her head is resting on his chest and she can hear the steady beat of his heart. His arms have wrapped around her body and hold onto her like a drowning man to a lifejacket. 

His chin rested on her head and his eyes were closed, taking in the moment for a while longer. But then the moment was gone and Adam pulled away. He looked down at his loyal lieutenant, his best friend, his Lute and smiled softly.  “Alright, let’s stop being pussies and get the fuck out of here.” 

Lute nodded and hoped that the blush on her cheeks was not as visible as she feared it was. She hoped this line that they have crossed can be maintained even when they leave Hell. A piece of her felt like an addict; she now knew what this little slice of perfection tasted like, how could she ever be expected to give him up? 

Another part of her knew that this closeness they had developed would not last in Heaven. He would go back to being her commander and the mythic First Man and she would go back to being his loyal lieutenant, always so close and yet so far. 

Lute shook herself out of her musings and was brought back to the scene at hand. They had slipped out of the hotel through the garden. There was a spot in the fence that Lute had discovered on one of her morning runs. It was just big enough for the two of them to slip through and leave the safety of the hotel. 

The Embassy shone in the distance and Lute was grossly aware of just how far the trek would be on foot as opposed to flying. 

“Alright Lute, we just gotta lay low,” Adam said, his voice low as they walked the streets of Hell. Various sinners walked the streets, most minding their own business. The streets smelled of piss, blood, and sweat. That didn’t stop the citizens though, as this was the most crowded Lute had ever seen the Pride ring (of course, it not being an extermination day had everything to do with it).

Apart from the literal dumpster fires, cannibals in the streets, and gunshots, the entire street wasn’t so different from Heaven. Though she had never been to earth, maybe this coupled with her time in heaven was the closest she would ever come to experiencing life as a human.

“Dude, that's fucking gnarly,” Adam whispered as he stopped to look at the various advertisements and shop windows. Lute looked over to see a picture of their newest acquaintance, Fizzarolli, holding something called the Dragon Driller 5000. 

A bunny sinner that the pair had been walking by looked over at Adam and shrugged. “Don’t knock it until you’ve tried, sugar. I’ve got three at home.”

Adam opened his mouth to give a very Adam-esque reply. Sensing the degeneracy, Lute stomped on his foot and replied. “We’ll keep that in mind.”

The bunny looked Lute up and down before sending her a wink. “Looks like you’ve got your little boyfriend trained already.”

Lute gave the bunny a strained smile. “I try.”

Lute could feel the utter need to speak radiate off of Adam.”It was nice talking to you, but we’ve got to get going.”

“Alright sugar, rain check on getting that dragon driller though! You and your boy toy would have a great time.” 

Lute nodded and pulled Adam away from the scene, her cheeks burning at the implication. “Come on. You’re not really practicing what you preach, huh? What part of laying low did you not understand?” She whispered sharply.

“I’m sorry, bitch, I can’t help it. There’s just so many possibilities here. Couldn’t help but stare,” Adam whispered back, shrugging his shoulders, and looking around at the other shop windows.

“Come on, let’s keep moving,” She said, walking briskly ahead of him. They were only a few blocks from the Embassy and while they had not had any negative interactions yet, all it took was breathing wrong in some sinner’s direction for all of Heaven to break loose. 

Lute walked past an alley and was met with a rush of cold that was an unexpected contrast to the otherwise hot streets. She looked back at Adam to make sure he was close behind. And he was, though walking a bit more leisurely than she would have cared. She shook her head in annoyance and continued. 

She passed another alleyway and felt a cold figure wrap around her, covering her mouth and pulling her into the alley. Her eyes were wide in shock as the figure continued to wrap its shadowy tendrils around her body. Lute recognized that bone-chilling coldness as the same one she had encountered at the hotel 

The fucking Radio Demon.

Lute should have known that he would have his loyal shadow follow them. They should’ve been smarter. But he had kept his guard dog in check for the last few weeks and Lute very rarely saw anything hiding in the shadows around the hotel anymore. 

Fuck. 

Fuck the Radio Demon. 

Fuck Adam for deciding to window shop now of all times. 

Fuck the Bunny Sinner and her promotion of her disturbing sex toys. 

Fuck.

Lute felt like she was screaming. Even if she was, she wasn’t able to make a sound due to the shadow’s penetration of her mouth, her nose, and her ears. Darkness began to ensnare all of her senses until there was nothing.

-

The shadow chuckled. Master would be proud. He was tasked with keeping an eye on the golden-eyed-ones. Master knew they were up to no good and so the shadow bid as Master asked and followed them through the streets of Pentagram City. 

The shadow kept to darkness, skulking the alleyways and keeping watching on the golden-eyed-ones. Master had said if they were getting closer to the golden building, to take action. And so the shadow did as he was asked. 

The silver one had gotten ahead. The shadow had already had a taste of her a few times at the place Master now lived. Her fear called to him and shadow took great pleasure in engulfing her fear and soul, sucking the light from her body. 

And so, the shadow chose to strike. The silver one fought back, as was expected, but she was no use for the shadow’s darkness. The shadow engulfed her in the alley intending to take her back Master. Her spirit was delicious. It was a wonderful mixture of dark and light matter that the shadow couldn't get enough of. 

The shadow began to move, to take the silver one to Master as a prize. 

A rock moved. The shadow looked up. 

The shadow turned to see the big one standing at the start of the alleyway, a knife brandished in his hand that gleamed in the light of the city. 

“Get the fuck away from her,” The big one screamed, lunging for the shadow and the silver one. The shadow screamed, the sound high-pitched like a banshee. Two birds, one stone. Master would be pleased. 

The shadow began to spread its tentacles so that it would catch the big one in its grasp and immobilize it. The big one fought against the shadow, screaming out and thrashing, until he fell still. 

Perfect, the shadow thought. The perfect gifts for Master. 

“Tell your master I said he can suck my fucking dick,” The big one said and he began to thrash once more and sliced through the shadow with his angelic steel knife and escaped his grip. The shadow screamed, the most anguishing screaming as a piece of its shadow tendril fell to the ground and dissipated, unable to regenerate to the shadow. 

The big one sliced again, another tendril of the shadow’s falling to the ground and disintegrating with the shadow powerless to stop it. The shadow screamed once more, pulling all the warmth from the area, and quickly began to release the silver one, who fell to the ground. 

The shadow took in the scene and made a choice: Flee and feel Master’s wrath.

-

“Lute!” Adam yelled, dropping the knife as the shadow disappeared into the dark alley. He ran to her and fell to his knees, pulling her up and cradling her to his chest. 

“Lute,” He said again, pushing away the strands from her sweat-covered face. Her breathing was shallow and her skin was ice cold. “Lute, come on, wake up.”

Lute began to cough and sputter, the color coming back into her face. She took in deep breaths and looked around the scene in fear. 

“What, what happened,” She coughed out, her eyes meeting Adam’s. 

“The fucking Radio Demon sent his fucking lap dog” Adam growled out. “He’s gone for now, but I don’t know how long we have until that bastard comes after us.”

Lute nodded, taking a deep swallow. She began to try and stand but couldn’t catch her footing before she fell back into Adam’s embrace. Adam’s features were dark, rage radiating off of his body. He looked down at her and knew he had to act quickly. 

“I’m going to fly us to the Embassy.”

Lute’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Adam, no. On the ground we might blend in, but the sky? Everyone’s gonna know what two fucking angels look like.”

“I don’t care. We know the sky better than the ground. I’d rather take our chance.”

“Adam, I don’t-” She breathed out, her lungs still weak from drowning in darkness. 

“Just trust me,” He said, gathering her in his arms and walking from the alley. She had no choice but to comply and no strength to keep arguing.  He bent down to grab the knife and noticed it was covered in a black, tarry substance. 

Thankfully, the altercation hadn’t even drawn one bystander’s attention (why would it? This was Hell.) and so Adam unfurled his golden wings for the first time in months and took to the skies, Lute cradled in his arms as he flew them both to a hopeful salvation. 

[irkimatsu]

Ooo yes dad reasons too! I was thinking left over habits from being an Overlord for some of it. Make sure he himself is presentable and any of his contracted souls also look well put together.

Also, if he started to get a little too tipsy or anyone made an attempt on his life through poison, putting his hands on someone's shoulders in a "let me fix your collar and sleeves" was would be a good subtle sign to run interference, and offer him a moment to regain balance.

But also just. Becomes such a part of him and so natural to him there are even more subtle differences in the action- like a 'im getting too drunk' squeeze to the nape of the neck, or a second harder tug in a shirt cuff meaning someone was seen smuggling in angelic weapons, a blink and a brushing back of the hair is the 'I've been compromised and poisoned' but they are all only slightly different from his usual action because he can't let a tell get caught out then where would he be? What kind of gambler if it was so easy to see his tells?

Wouldn't be the first time he's woken up with off colored fur, or feathers, and a strange taste in his mouth. 😏

Oh I love the Overlord thing. Yes yes yes. He absolutely needs those tells to subtly communicate to his people when something's wrong. I'm taking this as canon now. The contracted souls he uses as security learn his tells quickly - they have to in order to keep their role. (I imagine "personal bodyguard" is a better job working for Overlord Husk than working the casino bar for a bunch of rowdy drunks who will take their losses out on you. If you get chosen for guard duty you better do all you can to keep it. Protecting Overlord Husk is a much better gig than being regularly spat on.) It's especially fun imagining that whoever is trying to take Husk out doesn't recognize the tells as such - they just think he's stumbling around because he's a sloppy drunk or because the drugs are taking effect, not because he's trying to tell someone to go kick his would-be assassin's ass. And sometimes they are just "I'm fucking wasted, can you please politely excuse me from this event so I can go puke somewhere", so if they do study his little clues only to find out they mean shit like "I need to vomit", they're not going to pay further attention to them. Good strategy of misdirection. Husk knows exactly what he's doing.

And oh-ho-hooooo those strange tastes... as an Overlord? Slightly concerning, but not unusual. It'd be nice if he could remember who he just slept with half the time, but not a big deal. When he has a partner, though? Red fucking alert, dear god, this isn't their fur color in his mouth, what the fuck happened last night, god damn it this is his first serious partner since dying and he cannot fuck this up with his old ways! Damn relief when he finds out he didn't sleep with anyone last night, he just licked his partner's coat before passing out against them

[voiceinthemidstofthefourbeasts]

The Death of Love pt 4

Mark watched quietly, not willing to break Moloch’s concentration. The abyssal language brought goosebumps to his skin, hearing the Demon King weave some sort of spell in the chamber that resembled his room. What Moloch was doing, however, remained unknown. It seemed frivolous to waste much energy on much of anything unless it was directed at something within the plane of Purgatory itself. Mark sat up, rubbing his head as the demon’s attack earlier still worn on his own body. It seemed frivolous to beat him like he did, considering they seemed to need each other if they were going to survive together. Survive. Mark pondered this. What would happen if they died here in Purgatory? He knew in Hell there just seemed to be an unrestful sleep and then waking again to continue torment. But did the same rule apply here? Or did they turn into those inky figures? He didn’t want to find out. Through the sounds of demonic chanting a far off wail echoed through the walls. It was apparent that this stronghold in their minds wasn’t impervious. He wanted to think the Godking was onto something. He wanted to believe a farfetched plan would somehow work. Mark just had to make sure Moloch knew the rules of this plane and earlier he had tried to make that known, even if it sounded daunting. But they had to try if something were to work. He just hoped that he wasn’t right in this final destination. Mark didn’t want to be dead in Purgatory. Moloch’s chanting ceased just as Mark went to step from the bed, the demon still focused on something as another wail sounded. “Go get Robert.” “We should leave…” “–I /know/,” Moloch interjected. “Grab him and let’s get out of here.” The harbringer left the room, following the hall to where Robert wept in his sleep. His own arm still surged with a deadness to it and making it sting when he tried to pick up the human soul. This was useless at best. “Robert… We have to leave…” Another wail. The human woke easily, eyes fearful once more. “Tori..?” “Let’s go, Robert!” But, again, the man curled and wept. But Mark couldn’t empathize right now, he was becoming anxious as the wails seemed to be getting closer. With a slight snarl, Death grabbed up Robert by the arm roughly, forcing him onto his feet. The man shook and sobbed, “Tori!” “Get up and come on!” Mark ordered, pulling, yanking on the human as he went back down the hall. Impatience had set in. Moloch exited the room and met Mark, a quick eyeing of the human in tow. “There’s a wave of power over that direction,” Moloch motioned. “It feels far, but if we can get there we might be able to do something.” “TORI!!” Robert pleaded and fell to his knees in distress. “Oh– shut the fuck up!” Moloch slapped the human so hard, it became dazed and silent. And with a gruff look to Mark, he helped himself to hoist Robert over his shoulder with ease. “Come on,” he glared, walking past Mark. They made their way through the halls as the were winding and didn’t seem to end. One staircase than another, down and down, the stairs seemed endless. And the wailing was getting closer. Moloch spun around, grabbing Mark’s arm and demon poofed them to the bottom floor and led them toward what they understood was the back of the asylum. The halls looked different but kept winding and it felt unending. Finally, a door seemed to appear and Moloch and Mark busted through it, the landscape looking much as it did when they arrived. Moloch stopped, having to look around. Mark almost ran into him but noticed the same, turning and finding the building was absent. “We need to keep moving.” Moloch began to lead once more. The harbringer tried to feel the others heading their way, but nothing was working, yet the wailing closed in. They kept moving through the trees, but Moloch began to slow, Death noticing that the demon looked as if he were struggling, winded, possibly exhausted. “Mo- My Liege…. What’s going on? We must hurry.” Moloch stopped, putting the human down and leaned against a tree. “It’s… Fuck! It’s catching up to me… The spell… It’s draining me.” “Like earlier? Our powers?” “Duh! Yes! Just like that… My spell is still active… The shit I did earlier, I just… Waved it off but this…. ” “Stop the spell. We already know we’re heading that direction.” Moloch snarled and slid down the tree, his skin growing pale. “It took almost an hour– an hour to conjure that locator spell… We can’t afford to do that again.” A wail broke the silence, closer than before and causing Mark to feel a deep seeded panic. “Moloch, I plead you…. We cannot afford your exhaustion. End the spell.” With a growl, Moloch spoke a quick abyssal sentence, the demon’s locator spell ending, but the draining effect here continued. The wailing came closer still, the sound still void of echo like their voices. It was beyond chilling to think of the last attack now another dancing on the edge of their time here. “Mark, I can’t move fast enough… You need to stay and fight them off.” Not one for self sacrifice, Moloch had all intention of his harbringer protecting him so he could continue trying to escape the plane. And in a flash, one figure zoomed past, Mark gasping in the shock of it. A second knocked Mark down hard, the harbringer finally feeling the sting of the first- his chest slashed. “Get up, you idiot!” Moloch cried out, ordering his harbringer. And Mark was going to listen. Despite the blows, he leapt back up to his feet, trying to find where the creatures had gone. He could hear the wailing, loud around him but his eyes didn’t have sight on them. Eyes darting, trying to find movement-- and something did. A figure came from the trees ahead, flashing back and forth between them as it neared. Mark readied himself, spreading his wings and extending his hand. In a moment a brilliant white light illuminated the area, the wailing now high pitched as the figures began to burn and rush out of their hiding. 

And then the light was gone as the figures lay motionless, smoldering like chard husks on the ground.

“Moloch?” He began to step over to him, the demon huddled and curled to protect himself of the angelic powers. “Moloch?...”

“Warn me... before you do that next time...” The godking uncurled himself, still looking very weak. The human beside him looking relatively unharmed, stirred lightly at Moloch’s voice.

Kneeling, the harbringer began to pant heavily as the power surge had taken it’s toll, mixing with the pain of the open gash. “I don’t know how we are going to make it that far... finding this... opening or whatever you believe it is. These creatures are relentless. Surly I have made us a beacon for them now... “

“We have to /try/... Fly... something....”

“I’m much too weak to fly. The trees...” Mark peered up at the canopy, “too high... I feel heavy. I won’t be able to get much lift. The air is different here.”

“Fuck, Mark! Just try!” The demon moaned and rested his head back on a tree trunk in his frustration, “If we want to find an escape, we have to try everything.”

While Moloch would be the voice of reason, the feelings that overburdened Mark about this plane were growing. He himself was injured and likely poisoned yet again, their powers worked against their energy to just keep moving, and the human soul they carried with them posed another problem all together as if he were added weight to already heavy shoulders. 

“Let me... try...” Mark swallowed thickly. He also knew not trying what Moloch suggested could bring dire consequence later. The demon didn’t care how hurt his ‘Belial’ was, once Moloch found his strength again any resistance would be dealt with. Stepping away from the closest trees, Mark stretched out his wings. The muscles in them and his back sore, causing this to be unpleasant at best. And then he tried. At first a slow movement of flapping to test if they even still worked and then a hard flap as he leaped up, another to gain altitude. It seemed to be working after all, but it was a lot of excursion and he was right, the air wasn’t quite the same. His height began to lack as exhaustion still effected the harbringer and Mark landed, skidding to his knees. “It’s too much... I cannot right now...” His stinging made worse in his abdomen, he peered down and watched the dark blood seem to grow on his shirt and even into his pants now. Sickness overtook his stomach in that moment, he feeling the twists and turns in the pit of it until Mark began to vomit what looked like black tar.

Moloch just watched with disgust from nearby. He was frustrated and his wrath in this place and all it’s creatures grew. His Belial was poisoned, that he could tell. He watched his pet pale and fall into the leaves, struggling to remain awake. He watched the harbringer writhe slightly as he again emptied his stomach beside himself. Moloch truly was hating this place and also beginning to really fear it now. What would happen if they died in Purgatory? Would their souls cease?