Chapter Text
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Pew Pew Pew!
They came loud and sudden. The shots of the ‘Laser Blasters’ filled the young man's ears. He winced at the sharpness of the noise and marvelled yet again at the phenomenon he was witnessing - every aspect individually. He blinked his large eyes to wash away the bright flashes of light blurring his vision. It was truly something - what they developed and how fast they managed it. Taeyong bit his lip in thought. He wondered just how long it would take for something greater to take over - greater than these game machines he now watched and the electric volts powering them. His eyes widened in time with the zooming letters on the screen of the game - the winning screen. Smiling, Taeyong watched a blond teenager high five his friends. Emotions. Something else humans developed far broader than those of the kind he, Taeyong, flourished with. And it brought a certain pride, a certain happiness to him - watching those emotions flare in the younger boys. It was something he found quite peculiar - but fascinating nonetheless; how humans felt these ranges of emotions despite being built the way they were. And it wasn't until he noticed another young man he found quite captivating, that his thoughts were broken abruptly with the sound of a ringing he just couldn't get used to.
“I’ve had quite enough of this ringtone, Seungmin! I simply-” Taeyong’s outraged start to the conversation was chopped short by, well, his boss.
“I cannot pay less thought to your constant complaining, Taeyong! If you can’t stand loud noises, don’t visit Earth, if you can’t blend in, DON’T VISIT EARTH!” Came scolding from the other end.
Taeyong rolled his eyes,
“What do you need?”
Quite aware he was that such words were no way to speak to his boss, but also confident in his own rank; Taeyong left the formalities behind.
“Taeyong, could you at least try to respect my current position?” The eye roll could be heard through the long-distance call. “Anyway, I need you to get back here. Now.”
“What’s going on?” Taeyong was aware of the genuine concern in his voice.
“I can’t speak of it over the phone.” Seungmin’s voice was strict and certain. “Get to Heaven now. No delays please.”
“Got it.” Taeyong muttered, still jumping to conclusions like a wild rabbit- the worst thoughts his priority. “I’ll be right there.”
“Thank you.” Was what he heard before the other end dropped the connection.
He bit his lip. Curiosity got the best of him. Seungmin sounded panicked - seriously panicked. It couldn’t be anything serious - could it? Taking one last glance at the group of teenagers again - they were now engrossed in another game. A second last glance he shot at the charming plush shark he had been working hard for the past hour at gripping with the rattly, metallic claw of the claw machine. He set off in the direction of the glowing restroom sign - where he could disappear without shocking any citizens of Los Angeles.
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Renjun watched his companion flip pages without interest - an expression of boredom adorning his face. It was quiet, peaceful where they sat - staring and rarely reading a word of the hardcover books before them. Renjun checked his watch, his eyes lingering on the numbers like always before turning back up to Chan’s face. The other’s eyes now met his.
“Literature continues to fascinate me, Junnie.” The brunette smiles, rubbing his tired eyes lightly.
“Fascinating indeed!” Renjun agrees. “Draining too…”
“Surely! We’ve been here for four hours!” Chan gasps, his own eyes now wandering the numbers on his watch.
“What do you say we take a break?” Renjun proposes.
Rolling his eyes, Chan smiles his bright smile. He stands.
“Let’s get out of here.”
And soon enough, the pair had escaped the intoxicating silence of the library. They strode now briskly on the sidewalk, eyes still adjusting to the sunlight.
“Where to?” Chan spoke - his voice seemingly enlarged by the space surrounding them now.
Renjun paused his steps, looking from side to side. The streets of London shone in the morning sunlight. Crowds were minimal that morning and the small shops, boutiques, cafes and restaurants seemed to call out his name.
“That one looks neat.” The curious foreigner pointed at a small black building jammed between similar ones of different colours.
The sign displayed before it invited guests for a cup of “the best coffee in England” - which quite captivated Renjun. Small round tables and white woven chairs lined the windows from outside and created a welcoming atmosphere.
“The best coffee?” Chan laughed. “You’re so cute! Alright - let’s see what they have to offer!”
Following this comment, the pair marched forward towards the open doors of the cozy cafe.
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“Have you heard?” Renjun inquired, gazing down the street. Citizens and tourists came strutting down the sidewalks - soaking up the warm sunlight.
“Heard what?” Chan raised his eyebrow - prompting his companion to elaborate.
“The rumour.” Renjun turned to face Chan. “The rumour that God was spotted here.”
Chan’s eyes widened,
“Here? On Earth?”
Renjun nodded. Silence followed from Chan.
“Who spotted him, do you know?”
“You know rumours,” Renjun shook his head, “they have an indefinite start and the tendency to change almost entirely.”
“I don’t know how to feel about that,” Chan said thoughtfully. “I want to know where He was spotted and why He was there. He’s been gone without a trace for months and suddenly He’s spotted on Earth? What’s up with Him?”
“You know we were always taught not to question His actions or decisions.” Renjun bowed his head to the waiter who had just served their coffee - thanking him politely. “It’s no use. I’m just as curious - but He’ll be back. He always is - and then He’ll tell us where He was….if He finds it necessary.”
Hearing the last addition to Renjun’s statement brought a pang to both boys’ chests. It was true - the rule they followed - question nothing, deny nothing, follow blindly with loyalty. But why? What stripped this pair along with their many siblings from the freedom and care children were normally expected to receive in a family? Or was their family different?
“How has work been?” Chan lifted again his sparkling eyes. His partner saw the colour missing - the news the latter had shared shocked Chan.
“Not bad.” Renjun smiled. “People here are developing - growing so fast, I can barely keep up! I’ve been visiting Heaven a lot lately - heard it’s gotten rough.”
“Yeah! From what I’ve witnessed, sure has.” Chan agreed. “I visit often now to help out. It’s surely changed. They left Seungmin in charge - he has quite a bit on his plate. A good friend of mine - Taeyong - reports to me when there’s a problem and I help get the train back onto the tracks.”
“That’s new!” Renjun laughed. “Us gods helping out in Heaven.”
“I know - He’d be against it I suppose. But what’s the problem? His children helping one another out!”
Renjun sipped his coffee and smiled,
“You don’t really consider us ‘related’, do you?”
“Surely not! Just using His own words.” Chan rolled his eyes.
“Considering He hasn’t given a single order since He left, there really isn’t a ‘right’ way to go about the situation, is there? I just hope everything gets resolved soon.” Renjun sighed.
Chan nodded,
“When I last spoke to Seungmin, he seemed to be under a lot of stress. I suppose Hell is handling everything a bit better than the team upstairs, huh?”
“I would suppose so as well.” Renjun chuckled.
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Speaking of; the team downstairs were quite busy as well - lined up and listening to strict instructions thrown their way by a rushing Devil. A string of demons - high ranking demons the leader trusted - stood in a line straighter than could be. Their red ties were straight, black shoes polished, black vests clear of a single speck of dust. They were attentive and loyal - no matter how overwhelmed. They stood as Jaemin (otherwise known as the Devil) dictated without end rules and responsibilities.
“I need everything in order at all times. No one enters the left wing hallway for any reason! Attending to new sinners at all times, otherwise watch the ones that need attention. Don’t start anything with the shifters! If they do, Jungwoo will tell me later and punish them in the moment please. No one leaves! Heard that? Also, stay out of my office - don’t even get near it. Stay in one piece - no fights please. Stick to your jobs, don’t bother the custodians. Don’t steal anything. Very important; keep an eye on Minho. Make sure he’s doing what he’s supposed to and not insulting anyone - the new sinners will experience enough in their time here - no need for his insults. Don’t slack and stay on track. Don’t bring anyone here. Keep the lower rank demons in check and set an example as always. That’s the real reason I’m telling you this - not that many of you would mess around. -”
He seemed to go on for hours. The demons blinked their eyes - quite unaware of how they were expected to retain all the information.
“Make sure Chenle and Hendery get the wallpapers done please. I can’t think of any other punishments. You all take care of those documents I gave you last week. We haven’t gotten to them yet, they should be done by now.” Jaemin paused to think after addressing the three demons at the end of the row. “I think that’s all. Not too much, right? Questions?”
The demons didn’t dare turn their heads, scanning their companions with their eyes only instead. At last, a demon named Ryujin raised a slow hand. Jaemin smiled at her,
“Ryunjin.”
“I was wondering about the meeting that I’m planning for next week. The chambers of the Second Realm in the right wing need redesigning. I was going to discuss a budget and blueprints - I needed to speak to an Earthly representative about that.”
“Ah, of course! I’ll give you special permission to leave Hell. No one else though!” Jaemin raised a strict finger.
“Thank you.” Ryujin bowed politely.
“Now if there are no more questions, I must be off.” Jaemin passed his inspecting eyes over his demons - none of which said a word.
A quick smile to the row of employees, Jaemin swung around his long black cape and marched off toward the front room of reception. There sat the already-mentioned-previously Minho. He sat slumped and uninterested in his tasks, twirling quite skillfully a pen. He hummed a steady tune, eyes tired and hair ruffled.
“Minho,” Jaemin declared, causing the boy to jump and straighten his posture at once, “have you finished all your paperwork?”
“Yes, sir!” Minho nodded eagerly.
“Really?” Jaemin lifted his eyebrows, eyeing the neat stack of indeed finished paperwork. “Well done.”
“Thank you, sir. And where might you be off to, sir?” Minho’s eyes shone watching his boss prepare for a trip.
“Some important business on Earth.” Jaemin smiled politely.
Minho’s eyes seemed to glow even more than before,
“Take me with you, sir. Please!”
“First off, don’t call me sir.” Jaemin laughed. “And no.”
“Please!”
“No.”
“Pleaseeeee~~~” Minho pleaded with his whole existence.
“Minho, stop this. I said no.” Jaemin looked pained.
“But you never let me leave and all I ever see are these four walls. I just want to go out and see the world. I’ve been here since a young age and I grew up here - this same room every second of my life. I just want to see something different. What makes me different from everyone else? Why do they all get to leave and venture Earth and I am locked up here this whole time? What did I do wrong? This is like prison!” Minho sounded desperate.
Those words hit a soft spot the Devil had for the dear, mischievous, but hard-working nonetheless receptionist. Jaemin sighed, his eyes sticking on Minho’s sad, miserable ones. He let out another sigh, thinking his options over.
“I say- It wouldn’t hurt to let you see Earth. You shouldn't cause too much trouble…” He said at last.
“Really?” Minho rose from his chair in shock.
Jaemin rolled his eyes,
“Yes really! Now get over here, I’m already in a time crunch! Jungwoo!!!”
In the blink of an eye, a rather tall, polished young man came rushing over.
“Yes, sir!”
“I need you to replace the receptionist while I’m gone. Find someone to do it. Anyone who won’t cause problems- just anyone! And hurry.” The last sentence he added as a baffled-looking young man came shooting down from the ceiling, ready to check into Hell.
“Where are we going exactly?” Minho inquired politely.
“Doesn’t matter. I’ll tell you when we get there. Just be obedient - I’m only bringing you because I’m stressed and have no time to argue with you. Give me your hand.” Jaemin grabbed the younger’s hand.
A red ribbon tied around their wrists and a brief whirl of air; the pair were gone from the lobby. The room was left with Jungwoo speaking kindly to the newly-arrived and terrified sinner.
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“Where are we?” Minho inquiries politely.
“Greenland,” Jaemin responds blandly. “Follow me.”
“So where are we headed?” Minho continues as the pair march forward in the damp forest. The trees towered high - just like Minho’s suspicions and questions.
“Nowhere special.” Jaemin halted his steps in an ominous round patch of grass between the trees.
“Here? Is this it?” Minho looked around in disappointment.
“Yeah. For you it is.” Jaemin waved his hand around in a hurry, sending flashes of red light out in all directions.
Minho watched - eyes wide - as a red woven barrier lit up around the spot where they stood. At this point, it hit him what was going on.
“Sir! What are you doing? I wanted to come with you! To your mission!” Minho whined, eyes darting from one side of the barrier to the other in panic.
“Minho, quite honestly - I’m late and I have no time to argue. I brought you to Earth like you wanted. But the business I’m attending to is quite secret and you must be excluded from that errand. However-”
“Sir!” Minho broke Jaemin off, running over in despair to the end of the barrier. Finding himself unable to cross it, he turned back to the Devil.
“Minho, I’m sorry. This is quite enough space for you to explore. If you want, I can get you a game or something.” Jaemin sighed.
“No! I don’t want a game!” Minho sat down angrily on the grass.
“Alright then.” Jaemin drew another deep sigh. “While I’m gone, which surely won’t be long, I want you to find a few things. Find me 10 acorns, 16 pieces of grass, 9 sticks, 24 stones, 3 shapes in the trees, 56 leaves and a positive attitude - a smile included.”
“No!” Minho shook his head stubbornly.
“Come on now! I must go! Have some fun! Make up a song and a dance to go with it!” Jamein pleaded.
“Expand the barrier! Where am I supposed to find acorns here?” Minho mumbled, still angry.
“Will do. Just stay here and don’t cause trouble.” Jaemin smiled and, having said his goodbyes, disappeared.
Minho stared hopelessly as the red, glowing barriers expanded beyond the wide patch of grass into the trees. He sighed and crossed his arms over his chest- wondering how he could possibly enjoy himself while he was left like a 3-year-old in an outdoor playroom.
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