Chapter Text
The demon’s claws weakly attempted to root themself into Lute’s arm, scratching at her uniform before ultimately falling to the ground beside its body with a pitiful thud. She let her angelic spear rest in the cavity it created for just a moment before she tugged it out of the sinner, looking down upon its miserable body, her face twisted in a scowl.
That made 274, that was good. A step up from last year, definitely. She sighed and rolled her shoulders, looking up at the portal to heaven, sitting in the smoggy red sky like a light at the end of a dreary tunnel. The extermination was almost over, some exorcists were already making their way up, Adam would be rallying for them to leave any min- her own thoughts were cut off as the shrieking sound of guitar strings sounded out a few yards away. Speak of the devil.
He was there, smiling as he shredded his holy weapon, sinners falling to his feet, bowing to the angel as they should have in life. He looked even holier like this, Lute thought. The portal to hell visible behind him like a second halo, his wings spread out, reverent and deific. She stared at him in silent awe, so distracted that she almost could have missed the sinner running away from him. Almost. She raised her spear and aimed.
275. She flew down upon the sinner's cadaver and ripped her spear from its chest. Almost a perfect shot at the heart, she felt a proud smile reach her face. And just then, a hand planted itself on her shoulder. “Hey, now that’s my right hand! Fuckin’ awesome shot, Lute.” he patted his hand on her shoulder and provided a quick, confident nod. “Thank you, sir.” she said, voice steady and strong. He smiled wide and then turned away, “Alright ladies! Let’s wrap this up and head back, alright?” He shouted, his voice bellowing across the battlefield.
From above Lute could see all of hell’s miserable surface, and she watched the exorcist angels rise from it’s horrible death at her boss’ command, like a swarm of moths to a flame, to Adam. He turned back to her “Let’s head out, Lute.” And he turned towards the portal, with her at his side and the army of exorcist’s behind him. Him and her, leading them back to the pearly gates.
. . .
The afterparty was always Adam’s favorite part. He joined his girls in eating the feast they had waiting for them, gorging himself on the holy food and wine. Everything was the best you could get, cause everything in heaven was fuckin’ awesome and him and his girls rocked. He walked around the grand dining hall, pearly white, pristine, and echoing with music and talking. He went around and patted exorcists on the back as they recounted their epic battles from this exorcism, shooting off finger guns and grabbing food from the table as he went.
He paused in his spot when Lute grabbed his arm. He looked down at her, confused, until he registered the concerned look on her face. “Sir, we need to talk.” There was a certain shake in her voice that he wasn;t used to, he raised an eyebrow. “Uh- I mean, can’t it wait, Lute? Kinda in the middle of something.” He grabbed a chicken leg off of the table and took a bite pointedly “No- it- listen.” She stuttered before pulling him down and getting close to his ear, whispering. When she was done, he straightened up. “Show me.” He said quietly, and before they made their swift exit he turned and addressed the girls. “Hey ladies! I’ll be just one minute- Don’t party too hard without me, kay?” He said, his voice loud and boisterous. He was met with whoops of excitement before he turned and let the door close behind him.
. . .
Lute watched Adam’s face fall as he heard the door shut behind him. She couldn’t quite place the emotion- Anger? Shock? Annoyance? She didn’t have much time to contemplate it before he spoke “The fuck do you mean an angel died?” She swallowed, trying to gain her own composure, coughing to clear her throat before she spoke. “Exactly what I said, sir. They sent a team down to find an unaccounted for angel, they found a headless body instead.”
Her name was Morael, Lute didn’t really know her, just knew of her. Still, she couldn’t help the initial tears she shed at the news… more from the implications of her death than the death itself, if she was being honest. Adam spoke through his teeth, “But that’s not possible, Lute, that shouldn’t be possible.” She watched his hands tighten into fists at his sides. “You’re right, sir. It shouldn’t- that's why this was so urgent… I couldn’t believe it myself until I saw the pict-” “Show me the pictures.” His voice cut her off, only taking her off guard for a moment until she nodded and motioned for him to follow her.
There it was, plain as day. A dead angel projected onto the screen in front of them both. Her badge number and blood identified her, as there was no head, but it was confirmed, it was undeniable, an angel had died- no, not just that, an angel was killed. Adam was uncharacteristically silent, Lute studied his masked face as well as she could, waiting for any slight change, until-
“FUCK.” his voice boomed throughout the small room, his fist slamming down on the table, breaking it and the projector.
If Lute wasn’t as used to him as she was, his outburst would have startled her, but instead she nodded and stood in place as he got up to pace. “How the fuck did those sinner freaks kill one of my girls?” His voice was dripping with venom as he walked back and forth, hands waving around wildly. “We aren’t sure, sir. By all accounts, it shouldn’t be possible.” She said calmly. “Well obviously, Lute, it is, so what the fuck do we do to make sure this doesn’t happen again.” he was turned towards her now, his eyes squinted and mouth snarled.
“I- I don’t know, sir.” Fuck. She slipped, let her worry show in her voice. Adam’s face changed then, for a minute, his eyes widening and scowl dropping. He sighed and pitched the bridge of his nose through his mask, walking over and plopping himself down on the couch.
Lute sat down as well, leaving a comfortable amount of space between them. “This sucks ass,” Adam finally said, after some tense silence, “Extermination is supposed to be fucking fun.” Lute sighed. “I know, sir. This is… less than ideal, obviously.” There was a pregnant pause… until Adam’s laughter rang out. Lute looked up at him, eyes wide. “Did your ass just say an angel dying is less than ideal?” he snorted out, his head thrown back in laughter. Lute couldn’t help the smile that spread across her face “Well- I- You know what I meant, sir-” She laughed, “Damn, my co-worker dying is real inconvenient.” he said in a comically high voice. Lute joined him in his melodious laughter, “I do not sound like that!” she giggled, looking at him with feigned offense.
Looking at him then, she watched him roll his eyes and smirk at her, a little snicker making its way out. It wasn’t the first time she thought it, but that didn’t make her feel any less guilty than the other dozen times she let the thought slip into her mind. He’s pretty. She tried to push the thought out of her head, but she looked at him again and- he makes me so happy… That was a new one, she thought, and she felt her heart sputter with realization.
Fuck.
It was getting bad.