Chapter Text
A younger Amon, who was, at this time, only five years old, walked through the giant stone halls of the King's Court, murals lining them whilst Zhou walked next to him, on his left. In silence, the two of them walked, their footsteps tapping on the cold stone floor as the sound echoed throughout the hall. Amon couldn't help but look up to his left, to the pillar that seemed to hate him, yet he couldn't understand why. If the pillar hated him so, why even let him be born? Why give him more power? Zhou looked down at Amon. The pillar was never able to smile at him, not once. He wasn't sad though, even though he should be, just… curious.
“Why?”
Amon asked the pillar. He knew Zhou was already aware of his questions, after all, if a pillar couldn't do something as simple as mindreading, they might as well die in a ditch.
“. . .”
Amon knew he saw the pillar's lip twitch.
‘Ah, I've made him unhappier, again.’
He noted in his mind, before turning his gaze, looking at the murals on the wall as he walked.Twilight from the eternal dusk in the court illuminating the hall with glory and stillness. The King's Court itself is easily akin to a grand and magnificent still life painting.
“You… remind me of someone.”
The pillar finally answered after a moment longer. Amon immediately turned his head to look at Zhou who avoided the child's gaze.
“Who?”
Amon soon asked, for how could a child instill such unpleasant thoughts and memories into someone above gods?
“...You.”
He finally revealed, though with lingering doubts. To Amon, it was clear the pillar knew there'd be no change whether he hid the truth or not, yet, after weighing his choices, the pillar had decided to give in. Even if he were afraid. Afraid that the child would be the same as his future counterpart.
“Oh.”
Amon let out after a moment. Still curious, but his father and brother had told him not to pursue when others were in discomfort, which he was taught to recognize. Still, how could he instill fear in such a powerful being, even if in the future? He decided to turn his attention back to the murals, it wasn't for any reason though. He didn't care for the art, he just did it because others did it, they said it was because people stare at something else when they're bored, or guilty, or for just any reason. Besides, he was sure his future god and current caretaker, Zhou, would rather have him look elsewhere than stare at him.
‘Maybe I betray him in the future..’
The child mused, finding it to be silly, his life quite literally belonged to the pillar after all. He shouldn't have been born in the first place. It was only because his father begged his god to have a full set of Error characteristics, since he thought Zhou should have an angel under him and he rejected any of the other ones. Thus he was born. It was even worse when it was his father who annoyed Zhou into giving him a gift on his first birthday, which was a full set of Door characteristics. Which he promptly used as an excuse to not give him anymore gifts as the gift of being a dual pathway King of Angels at such a young age was more than enough. Truly, it was depressing from an emotional standpoint, there was no reason for him to exist, his own god didn't even want him to begin with, he was just harassed into it by a friend. And now it turns out that he even traumatized his god somewhere in the future. He should be smited for that, shouldn't he?
‘Such… absurdity. …A strange feeling. I want to laugh at how absurd my existence is.’
He couldn't help but think. He was still apathetic to an extent, but truly, he seemed to be a bane to fate.
“I…”
It seems his thoughts made the pillar guilty. Oops.
“. . .”
The pillar had choked on his own words, but Amon wasn't surprised. It was natural, natural for humans, which his god wasn't. It only made him more alien in this world.
“I don't want to hate you..”
Zhou paused again.
“It's not your fault, but…”
Amon noticed the slight, well hidden strain in the pillar’s voice and movement.
“I'm sorry.”
He finally let out with a long sigh. Amon wondering if he could know why, but he wasn't sure if he could.
“..Can I see?”
He asked a little bit after, he wanted to know after all.
‘Was this the same feeling that drives humans?’
He couldn't help but wonder, staring expectantly at the pillar.
“Haa… I'm worried you'll turn out the same.”
But they both knew that was a shabby excuse. Amon would likely turn out different regardless. It didn't matter if he knew or not, Amon didn't have to see to know that.
“...I just don't want you to be the same…”
He finally admitted, looking to the curved ceiling with a soft frown. One that Amon couldn't understand, but felt as if he should apologize for something, even though it wasn't his fault.
“I won't be the same though.”
He finally replied, his gaze still on the pillar.
“I know.”
Amon frowned, he could easily tell what this was. Displeasure. He was unhappy.
“How about this, I'll tell you when you're older.”
The pillar finally added, moving his gaze to meet Amon's.
“They say that and lie.”
“Five years, I'll tell you, then. After all, even fifty years is a mere speck in an angel's life, isn't it?”
“...Fine.”
. • ° {Happy Tenth Birthday, Amon!} ° • .
The child smiled at the fool, reaching to adjust the monocle that wasn't there. Realizing this, he soon frowned.
“Monocles were only invented in the fourth epoch…”
He muttered before returning his attention to the pillar.
“You really hate me that much, don't you, Mr. Fool?”
He asked with a sly smile, causing the pillar to click his tongue with disdain.
“At least I have a valid reason to hate you now.”
He retorted, making the angel’s smile widening somewhat.
“It is a pleasure to be at your side, Mr. Fool.”
“Kill me.”
. • ○ ° ~ < ♠︎ > ~ ° ○ • .
Klein glared at the spirit a little longer without making a move, deciding what the next action should be.
‘Pallez likely noticed the parasite as well and warned Leonard… it's not deeply parasitized, but Amon would still notice something, and I don't feel like dealing with him right now.’
He couldn't help but frown. Noticing Leonard saw his abnormal reaction but didn't mind it since his dear poet had different concerns that were much more pressing at the moment.
“We should probably retreat, it took our weapons and… everything. Haha.”
Leonard gave a dry laugh, remembering he just lost his poetry book. Klein nodded in agreement as he remained defensive against the Cryptologist spirit.
‘We'll just ignore the part where Amon is probably, well, definitely watching us right now.’
The spirit began emitting a low growl as it attempted to cause the duo to hallucinate with no effect. Before pulling out Klein's gun and beginning to shoot at them.
“That's great, it's intelligent.”
Leonard couldn't help but comment with mild amusement as Klein retreated into the forest, Leonard using a few poems before quickly following.
…
At some point the two of them got split up, both Pallez and Klein blaming Amon for that.
“Tsk…”
Klein frowned deeply, being stuck face to face with the spirit. He'd rather not have this marionette, Klein's body, be destroyed in any way.
‘I'm going to fire Amon as my angel and descent vessel for this if this marionette gets destroyed.’
Klein thought, the illusory maggots within the spirit creating a very unpleasant slimy sound as they writhed.
…
Leonard heard Pallez screaming inside of his head before it just went silent, a black haired man who wore warlock robes and a mage hat stood in front of him with a sly smirk, adjusting a silver monocle.
“Hello there.”
The man greeted, sending shivers up his spine. Leonard remained silent and incredibly defensive. He didn't know much about what the man could do, but he knew it was Amon, someone Pallez was deathly afraid of.
“That's not very nice, to ignore someone…”
Amon feigned being hurt, giving a slight frown in place of his earlier smile. Glaring at Leonard with a calculating gaze, before his smile returned.
“I now see why Mr. Fool enjoys your company.”
He couldn't help but comment, confusing Leonard who didn't know who Mr. Fool was.
“Ah, don't worry about it.”
Amon soon added.
“I am curious though, how will you escape this time, Pallez~?”
Suddenly, the King of Angels just… disappeared.
…
“Amon…”
Klein hissed, narrowly dodging another gunshot once more.
‘I really didn't want to have to use my main body for anything.’
Klein gritted his teeth with irritation. Using the Door authority to force Amon in front of the next bullet that was fired, hitting him in the chest.
“...Oh.”
Amon forced the parasite on the spirit to parasitize it deeper, causing it to cease all actions and stand there like an obedient puppet.
“My…”
Amon turned to face Klein, the gunshot wound already gone as he readjusted his monocle, giving a sad look.
“Do you really hate me~?”
Klein gave a disgusted look, causing Amon’s lips to curl up in amusement.
“Stop bullying Pallez, won't you? He'll get a heart attack soon.”
Klein said after a second, pitying the weakened angel who'd been getting chased by Amon for several hundred years just because Amon was bored.
“Ah, but did that really warrant being shot?”
“Yes.”
Klein replied without hesitation, making Amon wipe an invisible tear from his eye.
“But Mr. Fool…”
“Shut up… I'll need you later anyways.”
Amon’s eyes lit up. He was actually getting to do something soon! After being left to his own devices for over a couple hundred years this was practically a miracle.
“What for?”
“Reinette Tinker and preventing the King's apotheosis ritual.”
He said flatly.
“Huh? I thought the deities had disagreed, he's still attempting it?”
“It's what my spiritual intuition says.”
Amon couldn't help but grin.
“I see… very well then Mr. Fool, consider it complete. I'll slow down the construction processes for you~”
“Oh, and stop bullying Pallez.”
Klein deadpanned.
‘Really? Leaving before I could say that? Tsk.’
…
The duo sat in the room that they had rented in the inn, successfully removing the spirit as it was still unmoving due to Amon’s deep parasitism that was never quite removed by Amon, presumably since he didn't feel like getting berated by Klein again.
“You seem awfully calm for someone who's going to get interrogated by their siblings tomorrow.”
Leonard couldn't help but tease as he laid on the couch, still mentally recovering with Pallez from the encounter with Amon.
“I'll be fine.”
Klein responded dryly, considering what he should cook tomorrow as an apology to Benson and Melissa. Sitting on the bed as he fumbled around with the emptied revolver in his hand. Inwardly cursing at the spirit for stealing the spirituality of all of his bullets.
“Haha.. shouldn't you be sleeping though? You aren't Sleepless..”
Leonard questioned, putting down his poetry book.
‘Oh, I've been forgetting to sleep lately… notably with my main body… I should probably be fixing that…’
He couldn't help but think.
“Yeah..”
‘Marionette’s at this level shouldn't die for at least… as long as I want at this level… but I'm afraid with the potion if I remove my intervention because I'm sleeping…. That wouldn't go so well.’
He sighed, before putting the marionette to bed, deciding to keep an eye on Amon to pass the time.