Chapter Text
Azrael waited until the door clicked shut behind Emily before turning to Sir Pentious with a wide grin.
“Now then. People are going to do all they can to discredit you tomorrow.” Azrael said bluntly as Sir Pentious slithered over and took a seat. “Adam might have been the main instigator, but his Lieutenant is even more obsessed with revenge than she was about slaughtering sinners. I do not yet know who the exorcists will follow now that their leader is dead.”
Azrael wasn't sure what he was hoping for. If it was him, as their creator, he might be able to put a stop to them. At the very least he might be able to minimize their damage. But if it was someone else, he wouldn't be made to give orders he would never agree with, if it was decided that the exterminations would continue
“Why would they take it out on me? I've literally never done anything to anger heaven.” Pentious practically whined.
“Your very existence is a threat to them! You defy the narrative that every sinner in Hell is a danger to the very structure of heaven.” Azrael crossed his legs casually and looked down at the serpent with a look that bordered on pity. It was sad in a way. Pentious seemed too depressed to even be scared of his fate at this point. “Redemption means that Sera allowed the slaughter of thousands of human souls. Any of whom may have been able to redeem themselves like you did. She'll be terrified to face that reality, because her justification was the protection of heaven.”
“She's… scared?” Pentious sounded more surprised than insulted at the idea, head tilting curiously. There was a flicker of understanding in his eyes as he looked away in thought.
“Despite not being involved personally, you had to be aware at least of Lillith's rebellion? Adam used that as a means to enact vengeance against Hell… I had thought that the previous solution in place was enough, but the first man was more convincing than I had expected.” Azrael drummed his fingers against the table in irritation, still annoyed that he hadn't been able to do more to put a stop to things before they went too far. “I may be the Seraphim of death. But Adam and the exorcists showed no respect for my craft.”
“But. What am I supposed to do?” Sir Pentious rested his head in his hands, looking up at Azrael as if hoping that the angel might be able to tell him exactly what he needed to do.
“Just be yourself?” Azrael shrugged with a little amused smirk. “Explain why you felt the need to sacrifice yourself. How much the allyship in the hotel meant to you, and made you finally feel safe among friends, in Hell of all places. Myself and Emily can speak in your defense, but at the end of the day, you're the one on trial, not us.”
“All I can say is that I honestly didn't expect to be redeemed. I just… wanted to protect the only the people who, actually cared about me.” Sir Pentious seemed to go a little pale at the idea of arguing why he deserved to be here. “The fact I was the only one who died, kinda provessss I'm not a threat...”
“Don't sell yourself so short, serpent! You may not have been much of a threat in Hell, but it wasn't from lack of trying.” Azrael laughed. “You tried so hard to become an overlord, for over a century. You started turf wars, challenged people more powerful than you, publicly aspired to be a feared Overlord yourself one day. Where's all that bravado now?”
“How do you know so much about me?” The snake groaned, dropping his face into his hands, his hood covered him so almost nothing of his expression was visible.
“Because I was watching. It was terribly amusing to see you get thwarted time and time again. The petty rivalry with the Radio Demon. Your desire to partner with Vox's little band of miscreants. Even your little playfighting with hells pyromaniac street brawler. You really were a good source of entertainment.” Azrael chuckled, but his tone wasn't teasing or cruel.
He spoke about Pentious's failures as if they were nothing more than life experiences, instead of humiliating defeats. “A lesser soul would have given up decades ago. But you never stopped. Just like Charlie, you soldiered on even when everything was stacked against you, and no one else believed. You always believed you were more than just a sinner, and here you are. The first of your kind. Proof as clear as your golden halo.”
“I-” Sir Pentious looked up at Azrael, his expression vulnerable and soft. He looked as if it was the first time anyone had ever given him a compliment, and he couldn't believe what he was hearing. “How long have you been ssspying on Hell?”
Azrael hummed, considering what to tell the freshly redeemed sinner. He could reveal his identity, but that would be extremely reckless. Under this much stress, Sir Pentious couldn't be trusted to keep that secret. Especially if he were to slip up at the trail, in front of all the people Azrael wanted desperately to keep his secret dual identity from. Even if it would probably be a comfort, and distract Pentious out of his spiral, unfortunately the risk was too high for Azrael to take.
“I wouldn't call it spying, but I have been watching long enough. Once sinners had the ability to die a second death, I became very aware of the goings on in Hell.” Azrael chuckled, not planning to reveal that he was the one that introduced permanent deaths to Hell. “Despite your best efforts, you were never on my radar as a real threat. But it was fun seeing you try.”
Sir Pentious looked like he was going to argue, before stopping at Azrael's last tease, his face once again twisting into confused recognition.
“You… remind me of someone.” He murmured, and for a second Azrael thought he might have worked it out, before the serpent shook his head and sighed. He seemed to think better of voicing it outloud, or entertaining that thought. “Why can't I see my friends?”
“Sinners and winners aren't permitted to leave their realm. But perhapes I am able to ease your mind for a few moments?” Azrael hummed, focusing on the hotel as his hands moved in a complex pattern in front of him. A dark ball of shadows formed between his hands, slowly clearing like a crystal ball, it started to show an image of the disaster left from the battle. As it zoomed in closer the figures became clear, everyone from the hotel, plus Cherri-Bomb and Lucifer, working together to rebuild the hotel from the rubble.
Pentious leaned forward, his expression soft and broken, before fat tears built up in his eyes. He was transfixed by the image, eyes darting over every person's face, seeing both the sadness and determination they were feeling. There was no audio, but it wasn't needed, they were safe, and supporting each other in the aftermath of the battle and his death.
After awhile the image darkened again, and the shadows dissipated, disappearing like smoke. Azrael regarded the serpent curiously, watching the vulnerable and bittersweet expression on his face.
Sir Pentious let out a little awkward laugh as he scrubbed at his wet eyes with the sleeve of his jacket. “If the trail goes badly. What will happen to me?”
“Hmm, now that is a good question. Considering there is no precedent for this, I really couldn't say. Though I can confidently say that you would not be sent back to Hell. Just in case you were thinking of sabotaging the tribunal to return to your friends.” Azrael smirked, seeing the startled look of guilt on Pentious's face, confirming that he'd predicted correctly what was going through his head. “I cannot let the hotel know you are here until the proceedings are over… But if it would help, then you are welcome to write them a letter, and I will make sure they receive it the very moment I am able to.”
“Why are you helping me?” Pentious sighed, but seemed slightly reassured by the suggestion of something productive he could do in the meantime. Warming up to the seraphim after he finally allowed him for himself that his friends were unharmed. “And why haven't you helped Charlie, if you were there this whole time?”
“The hotel has become a… recent fascination of mine. Charlotte Morningstar is achieving something that no one else has come close to since hell began.” Azrael said honestly, relaxing back on his hands with a thoughtful expression. He couldn't reveal how he had been very active in helping Charlie since the start. So instead, he offered up a reason why. “Human souls are such… complex things. Especially to those of us born, or in my case forged, in heaven or Hell. We can never hope to fully understand your kind, but she at least is trying. If I were able to have a more active role myself, then I would.”
Sir Pentious seemed to consider what Azrael was saying for a moment, before his sceptical expression softened. “Even when I was trying to sabotage the hotel for the Vee's, Charlie accepted me. For the first time, I felt that… someone actually cared. About me.”
“That is what you need to make them see at the trial.” Azrael nodded, having seen first hand how much the princesses' forgiveness had meant to Pentious. “Charlie welcomed you with open arms, and you wanted to be better. Not because you wanted redemption, but because she made you realise that you were more than what fate has bestowed upon you.”
“You really admire her. Don't you?” Pentious asked gently, a look of kind understanding coming over his features.
“Hmm…Call me sentimental, but Charlie is so much like the version of her father that existed when I was first forged.” Azrael admitted, bringing up a leg to rest his arm against, getting comfortable as his expression turned pensive. “Bright eyed, excitable, and with a deeper love for humanity than any Angel could ever hope to have.” Azrael's smile turned bittersweet and wistful. “It is a shame that Lucifer let that same humanity diminish the radiant light of Heaven's brightest.”
“Is it true, that Lucifer was the one who allowed the exterminations?” Pentious asked tentatively, probably a little nervous about the answer.
“That is the narrative that was agreed upon. The full story is much more complicated, and not mine to tell.” Azrael tilted his head to the side, looking down at Pentious. His eyes roamed over the halo, the small pure white wings. He was every bit a winner now, as much as any other human soul in heaven, but it had cost him everything he had come to know.
Azrael sighed as he continued. “The truth is that Lucifer was unable to prevent the exterminations. He was only able to negotiate for all Hellborn to be spared. Once Charlie was injured, the pact was broken and he was able to subdue Adam. I can't imagine the relief he felt once he was able to save the one thing he still cares enough to protect.”
“But… Why didn't you help us?” There was no accusation in Sir Pentious's voice, only curiosity.
“I never agreed with the exterminations, but my hands were tied almost as much as Lucifers. I could only watch as they massacred hundreds and thousands of human souls every year without prejudice.” Azrael adjusted his position, looking up at the vaulted ceiling instead of the redeemed sinner. “I am physically unable to harm any of the exorcists, or prevent them from doing their job. That was the condition of their creation." Azrael sighed, admitting his part in their creation. It was why ‘Alastor’ had stuck to forming the shield, and attacking Adam directly, Adam was not protected by the same restrictions placed upon Azrael.
“That sounds awfully unfair… Apart from Miss Emily, you seem to be the only angel I've met who actually cares about sinners.” Sir Pentious frowned.
“That is because I am the sole creature with the ability to traverse all the realms at my leisure. To me, a human soul is a human soul. It makes no difference to me if it is alive, tainted for Hell, or glowing for Heaven.” Azrael stood from the table, straightening his coat from where it had rumpled from his seated position. “Without humanity, neither myself or Emily would have come into existence.
“Once upon a time Lucifer cared as much as we do, but he abandoned hope when he allowed the darkness of Hell to overwhelm him. The bright spark inside of him died as he was forced to see only the worst of humanity.” Azrael frowned. “I do not wish to suffer the same fate - nor to witness it’s death again, inside his daughter. If you will not stand up for yourself, then stand up for the hotel, and the people who got you here.”
Sir Pentious watched with his head tilted curiously, seeming to come to some sort of realisation. He slithered up from his seat with a more determined look on his face. “I will do what I can tomorrow. This isn't just about me anymore.”
“I will help as much as I can, but ultimately, the verdict will rely on you.” Azrael grinned, seeing some fire return to the serpent's eyes from their depressed weariness. “You will need to be prepared to raise your voice. Defend those you care for, because they will also be under scrutiny. You need to show that fire you had to prove yourself to hell, before all of heaven.”
Sir Pentious straightened up, half faked confidence and bravado on full display as he raised a hand to his head in a salute, standing to attention. Alone and afraid, but finally prepared to grow a spine for something he strongly believed in.
Azrael gave an amused huff at the display. “Let us hope you are ready. Tomorrow will indeed be a trail for the ages.”