Chapter Text
Vaggie couldn't keep her eyelids closed, the steamy air was an obstacle between her sight and the stars up in the sky. In a few hours, the extermination would start. Why was she, the best soldier and predicted to be promoted to second in command of the angelic legion, worried about it? She had been through many exterminations before. Ended the existence of countless demons, who threatened heaven's safety. It didn't make sense. But there was a heavy weight in her heart. One that she has always chosen to ignore. After all, the benevolent guardians of the Pearl Gates, couldn't be in the wrong right?
The sound of steps getting closer to her, grabbed Vaggie back to reality.
"Do you come here often, beauty?" A familiar voice said. Lute.
Vaggie was not a people person. So, when she wasn't doing her job or during the training sessions, she would mostly keep to herself. Lute was one of the few, if not the only, she would get to spend time with.
They clicked immediately in the army, and through the years they had been best friends to each other. Together, they would train and spend their weekends at the beach or simply getting mani-pedi, but nowadays they had some kind of frenemies relationship. Always competitive with each other, although, she is also someone Vaggie knows she can trust, and vice versa. However, since the rumors that Vaggie would be selected as lieutenant started, Lute has become far more bitter with her.
"I live here." she said, without averting her eyes from the horizon.
Lute glided. Her feet distanced themselves from the floor until she landed and sat on the balustrade next to Vaggie.
"What will be of us if our top soldier isn't well rested? We will be ruined !" She said, dramatically bringing the back of her hand to her forehead. "How many demons did you kill last year, 420?"
"440 actually." Vaggie replied, in monotone. "What are you doing awake at this hour, though? It's past midnight."
"I was on my way to the training quarters. Someone here is very dedicated in breaking your last record." Lute's tone was playful but Vaggie could still feel small hints of resentment.
"Good luck with that."
"Who needs luck?!" She said with a wink. "So, what keeps you awake?"
Vaggie bit her lower lip, unsure of what to say. She should simply say that there was nothing wrong, besides being excited for the exterminations and follow to her room. But Lute was also her housemate and Vaggie is a bad liar. So, there wasn't anywhere for her to run... And maybe, just maybe if every haunting thought she had left unsaid were finally set free, they leave her in her peace.
"It's complicated."
"I'm listening..."
They have talked about this before, sort of... The first time she asked Lute if she liked her job, as expected, Lute offered her a positive answer. On the second, Vaggie questioned her if she didn't feel a little guilty after each extermination and this time, Lute offered a negative reply. On the third time, Vaggie said that she couldn't quite picture herself in the military in the future, and her friend, gesticulated towards the recruits before telling Vaggie to not waste her life. look at them, all these girls dream to get where we are now, but it’s not everyone who gets as far as we got, as 𝙮𝙤𝙪 got. Don't throw everything you have away.
Vaggie took a deep breath, trying to select the correct words to use.
"When did the sinners actually rebel against us?"
Her colleague's alabaster eyebrows curved down in confusion. Vaggie couldn't blame her, after all her own rational side, would tell her to leave this behind. It was all indeed very... Unorthodox.
"I mean. . . Did we actually have any trouble in this regard that doesn't stand next to the roots of creation? Humans pray for us every day with the faith that we exist to protect them from evil. That we will save them from eternal damnation, because we are there to guard their spirits..."
"Okay, look..." Lute interrupted "I know you like signing up for the guardian angel stuff on earth or whatever… It's your thing, I understand that. However you can't forget that your responsibility lies with these souls 𝙖𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧 they got into heaven."
"But isn't it a little hypocritical? that the same creatures that humans love and preach, are the ones who will eventually destroy them?"
"Vaggie, Do you listen to yourself? The souls in hell, are in hell for a reason. Assassins, Molesters, Drug abusers... The harbingers of the worst that has on earth. If you actually care about the humans, you should be okay in pushing them.''
"I know, but..."
"A man only lives once, remember? they had their chance."
"And Thou Shall not kill, remember? It's a sin. We can be considered sinners as well Lute… because we are not only murders, what we do it's a genocide. As far as we know sinners can't even travel between the rings in hell or visit the land of the living, much less come to heaven. Isn't a little too much to consider them a threat? They already got their deserved punishment." Vaggie said firmly, but her stance was still calm, she wasn't trying to start an argument.
Lute had a blank expression on her face. One vaggie could not read. Maybe Vaggie's ideals were starting to sink in lute's mind as well?
"We are the best duo in the legion, when I get my promotion, we both gather our influence and speak up-" Vaggie said, curving her lips up, ever so slightly. Offering a small and yet comprehensive smile to her friend. Her right hand reached forward to hold Lute's.
In a matter of seconds, other woman took fly, charging against her. Her hand wrapped around Vaggie's neck.
Vaggie could notice Lute's veins popping out. Considering how Vaggie’s own feet didn't touch the floor and how the air didn't seem to be capable of finding it's away to her lungs, it was clear that she wasn't pranking.
Her ivory hues stared at golden ones. The chock that Lute's reaction caused her, prevented Vaggie from even trying to extricate herself. She had never seen her like this. Of course, they had their heated discussions, ups and downs but that was too much… that moment, Lute seemed the embodiment of wrath.
"Speak for herself, but don't you dare to ever imply that I'm a sinner."
"Th-that's not what I... "
"You are really unworthy of the attention and praise you get. How can they ever consider someone who defends demons, and even worse, who calls herself a sinner as their top soldier?"
Lute leaned forward, their faces so close that Vaggie could feel the woman's icy breath in her face.
"What would Adam and the rest of the legion think of their superstar after knowing that she favours the infernal creatures instead of her own kind? Do you want to lose your status and fall? Then be torture for eternity?! I think you would like it right? To burn amongst your protégés... ?" She tilted her head to the left and then right, letting out a laugh, and it sounded like she was taking joy while imagining this idea.
"I… never said any of that , I just..."Speaking was starting to become a hard task.
"But I'm your friend, and I deeply care about you. So I will do you a favor and pretend I didn't listen to any of that, okay?" The angel's lips curved up in a twisted smile, or at least was what it initially appeared to be… when Lute released her grip, that grimace and the hellfire in her eyes were gone. Her features now were molded with kindness and a genuine smile.
Lute turned her back to Vaggie, making her way to the door.
"I will bring some croissants for us, tomorrow is a special day, why don't we have a fancy breakfast to celebrate smashing those little cunts!?"
She said, excited before Vaggie heard the sound of the door closing.
Lute was gone, leaving to the training rooms as if nothing had happened. And again, Vaggie wondered how things got to things point... They used to be do good to each other…