Chapter Text
Emily and Abel have a plan.
Kind of.
They’ve decided they need to talk to Sera. See what she knew, see what she allowed.
That’s mostly for Emily’s sake, she doesn’t want there to be anymore lies between her and Sera.
But depending on what Sera knew, the plan changes. If she knew, they’re going to find someway to take them out of Sera’s jurisdiction. Make it to where she doesn’t get a say in what they do.
If she doesn’t know, then they get her help, or at least her support to get them the help they need. Because judging by what they saw, the Exorcists need more help than Abel or Emily can provide.
Only problem is, when they planned to meet up to go talk to Sera, a laser shoots through fucking Heaven, and a TV headed man threatens to take over.
…
Abel thought he had become more bold, more confident, but the second violence and anger and fighting and screaming came back into the picture, he could feel his strength crumble like, sand or a cookie.
He couldn’t think straight, everything is falling apart and Lute and Emily were screaming at each other.
He feels like a child, small and scared and weak.
He felt so relieved hearing that the Exorcists will remain on standby.
But Lute’s bloodlust terrifies him.
The look in her eye reminds him of a loud wet crack coming from his own skull, of wet red grass, of warm liquid flowing down his face into his eye, the feeling of getting colder, and colder till he couldn’t feel his fingers, the sound of his brother shouting, being muffled by the ringing in his ears, the feeling of being hit again, this time, feeling his brain matter move as his senses die out, till he
Couldn’t
Feel
Anything
He feels like he needs to bash his forehead into the wall to get himself back to reality, but pinching himself till he feels like his skin is going to tear is enough to ground him back to reality.
But it's not enough to pull himself together.
He feels like he’s going to throw up.
Just the idea of being anywhere near blood makes his skin prickle into goosebumps so intense they hurt.
And imagining making the Exorcists fight after everything he’s done to make them feel safe and comfortable.
God he’s never going to forgive himself if he has to send them into battle.
“Abel Sir?”
He whips his head around, realizing he’s been staring at a wall for god knows how long, to see the Exorcists. The way they’re all looking at him in this horrible collage of fear, sorrow and resigned acceptance makes him want to throw up till there’s nothing else left to expel from his body.
One of them, Babette, looks him in his eyes with poorly suppressed fear pouring out of her deep grey eyes, and gathers all her composure to speak.
“Do… Do you think we will be fighting today?”
Abel feels his heart shatter.
The moment those words are spoken the other Exorcists behind her seem to crumble deeper into their fear and anxiety. Some shedding tears and others gritting their teeth so hard he can practically hear them grinding.
His mouth feels so dry he thinks his tongue will bleed.
He can practically taste that horrible metallic taste.
Red grass stabbing into his cheek, blood pouring down his head like a cruel imitation of a waterfall, the blood pooling in his throat, filing his mouth so fast he’s practically choking on it.
He pinches himself so hard he knows he’ll bruise, but it keeps him in the moment long enough to speak.
“I...”
“Abel, we are moving forward, I need you at my side.”
He turns to see Sera, standing tall and strong. As strong as she can be, but it’s far stronger than Abel by miles.
He turns to the women he’s come to treasure and admire in such a short amount of time, and knows he needs to do whatever he can to keep them safe.
“I promise you. I will keep you safe.”
…
Abel kept his promise, but at a cost he’s not certain was worth paying.
He stopped Lute, eventually, and got her to stop.
But to do so he had to be like his father.
He was a monster, Abel knows that now, but fuck was he bold and brash and confident in a way Abel needed to be.
He needed to be like his father to get Lute to stand down. But now he can’t tell where his farther ends and he begins.
Because in that moment, he didn’t think of Eve and her strength, or Emily’s strength, or Sera’s strength, or anybody else.
He thought of his dad.
He can’t wrap his head around it. And it’s driving him crazy.
The Exorcists are noticing it too.
He’s been acting strange, how could he not? He’s going through a fucking crisis and he can’t hold up his mask like he used too.
He’s distant in a way that makes the Exorcists uncomfortable.
Because physically he’s there, but mentally and emotionally, he isn’t connecting. He’s somewhere else, lost in thoughts they can’t seem to grasp at.
They didn’t see what happened which doesn’t make it easier. All the Exorcists know is that Lute and Abel went to get Emily, and when they returned, Lute was resigned and quiet and Abel was quieter than normal, but closed off.
He barely spoke a word to anyone the next day and he’s begun talking again, but far less than before.
He’s still taking the Exorcists on outings, and doing exercises with them but he’s different.
He hasn’t smiled since he returned from Hell with Lute…
It’s driving them insane.
They want to fix this, to make him smile again, but they don’t know what to do.
Abel has done so much for them but at their cores they all still believe that their purpose is to destroy, fixing things or making things better feels impossible.
So they go to the only person they can talk too.
“Miss Emily? Can we ask you for some advice?”
Emily, despite everything that occurred, is in amazing spirits. Her once damaged wing has a golden replacement, similar to Lutes prosthetic arm. It keeps the attention of several of the Exorcists, while they all gather the courage to be the one to actually speak their desires.
“Of course! What can I do to help?”
Eventually, one of the exorcists, Glinda, finds the courage to say what needs to be said.
“Abel has been acting, strangely… we are worried about him but are unsure what to do. And considering your expertise on making people happy, we thought you’d be the best person to speak with.”
Emily’s smile grows warmer, her smile was bright and inviting before but now it has this beautiful mixture of warmth and pride.
“I’d be honored to help you all. Do you have any ideas that we can start with?”
…
It takes many hours of brainstorming, with multiple delays from Emily inevitably mentioning denizens of Hell, leading to a very emotional conversation about their fallen sister in arms, Vaggi, but eventually, they formulate what they believe is the best plan to cheering Abel up!
It takes time and strategic planning, but soon, the Exorcists are divided into groups.
One for food, another for entertainment, and a third for comfort.
Eventually, their planning leads to the final step. Getting Abel to his office.
…
“Abel? Can you come with us for a moment? We noticed something unusual in you office earlier”
The two Exorcists in front of Abel are in their casual attire, which makes sense as it’s their day off, but also confused Abel as to why they’d be poking around his office on an off day. But his mind quickly guides him away from that to thinking of how it was formerly his fathers office, and the horrible things he knows his father did.
He keeps himself from spiraling by clenching a small metal ball in his pocket. It used to be part of an old Exorcist weapon but he, repurposed it, to help keep him where he is instead of his wandering thoughts.
“Of course.”
The women in front of him seem equal parts excited and concerned. Abel himself struggles to notice but to anyone else it would be so obvious it would be almost physically painful just to bare witness to the disconnect.
But the Exorcists are just glad he seems present enough to agree.
He hasn’t been very aware of the things around him as of late…
But they distract themselves from what has been and look forward to what will be, chatting at Abel about the weather and new arrivals that they’ve heard about. And to their delight, he was actually responding to the conversation!
Well, he was humming or grunting in response, but that was more than he’s done in days, so they were graciously considering it a win.
Eventually they reach the office, and the women on either side of Abel quietly pray for the success of their plans.
Opening the door, Abel is immediately hit with a wave of delicate but powerful smells, and the sight of soft, low lights.
It takes a moment for his mind to catch up to the display in front of him, but once it clicks he feels tears in his eyes.
On the floor of his office are the remaining 21 exorcists, all dressed in the comfiest pajamas they owned, sitting on the plushest makeshift beds Abel could possibly imagine. In front of them are multiple dishes, all of various types, but all distinctly being foods Abel has remarked as loving deeply
Qued up on the tv is Abel’s favorite show about wedding dresses, with the brightness lowered. In fact, the entire room is very dimly lit by small, animal shaped lights, each glowing a low pale white, all the animals being Abel’s favorites.
And in the middle of the mass of makeshift beds, is a plush little nest of blankets, pillows, plushes and the cuddliest baby animals in all of heaven.
Before anyone can process what’s happening, Abel drops to his knees and he quietly sobs into his hands.
The exorcists all dash to gather around him, all 23 women fretting and fluttering around him some soothing his shoulders and others to afraid to get to close and somehow make it worse.
“Abel Sir, are you alright?”
“Abel, are you okay?”
“What’s wrong Abel?”
“Did we mess something up?”
“We’re so sorry Sir!”
“We just wanted to help, we're so sorry!”
“What can we do to fix it?”
“You…”
“Abel?”
“What was that?”
Abel quickly dives forward and wraps his arms around as many exorcists as his arms will allow and he hugs the women in his arms tightly.
“Thank you…”
To the shock and delight of the exorcists, when Abel’s face becomes visible, he’s still crying, but he’s smiling.
A real smile.
A eye reaching, dimple showing, smile, the biggest, truest smile Abel has ever shown.
And the Exorcists explode.
A chorus of cheers, reassurances and squeals of delight ring out and echo off the walls of the office and the women missing from the hug, dive in, becoming the largest group hug currently taking place in Heaven. (Not the largest ever, as Emily sagely informed them when planning, that the record in heaven for largest group hug was 2,648)
Eventually the hug had to disperse, wings were pinching, and limbs were falling asleep, and hot food was waiting for Abel and the Exorcists to enjoy.
And enjoy they did, as Abel dig into a large warm plate of his favorite foods, his favorite show on, with the sweetest little critters known to mankind cuddling him, sitting in a large plush nest of a bed, all prepared by 23 woman who would do anything to make him smile.
Just for him.
And for the first time in a while, Abel is confident in what he is.
He is not his father.
He is trusted.
He is exactly who he needs to be.
He is Abel, son of Eve.
And he is loved.