Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Nero had been acting strange lately. 

He had grown rather quiet as of late, choosing instead to retreat into himself. When he showed up for his shifts, he started wearing the Order’s white robes more and more. That, in and of itself, was odd, as Nero typically balked at traditional outfits. One thing did not change; his brother still did not attend the church gatherings. At least that was consistent. The only thing that was not an Order regulation was a strange red bell charm that hung around his neck. Credo approached him at one point, and the teen raised an eyebrow.

“This? It’s nothing, I just found it at one of the shops in town. I thought it looked cool.”  Nero had waved off his question. 

Credo frowned at the answer, leaving absolutely unsatisfied with the answer. After he spoke with his sister, Kyrie tried to ask later that day.

“That charm is adorable, Nero! I didn’t know that you liked bells. Where did you get it from?” She gushed. Was it fake praise? Perhaps, but somehow, she knew how to pry answers out of Nero.

Nero quickly looked away, and Credo saw his cheeks turn pink. Nero had had a crush on Kyrie since…well, Credo is certain since forever. There was no way Nero could resist answering Kyrie’s question truthfully.

“This…? It’s nothing. Ju-Just found it at the shops in town. It looked…beautiful. I wanted it.” Savior help him, that answer was no better. Nero kept his eyes away from her and his hand, his good one, clutching the charm, as if it were a lifeline.

Not only that, but he has been disappearing more and more as of late. Credo had not been able to figure out what was going on with his brother. He tried consulting Kyrie, but she was just as puzzled as he was. When he tried to interrogate the white-haired teenager, Nero just scowled and then shook his head, telling Credo that it was none of his business. Credo held back a growl. Was he this stubborn as a teenager? Had Nero witnessed this kind of hostility from him toward their parents, and did it go to him? Or was this something else? 

Not to mention, Nero has been losing his temper more and more lately—one day, when the men were gathering around the patrol orders, including Nero. Credo happened to be walking by when he heard one of the men mumble under their breath. “Look at that, Eleison’s got light duty again. Shouldn’t he have healed by now? I thought he always healed pretty damn quick.”

“Yeah, what gives? The Savior turned his favor away from him or something? Thought with that hair color, he was blessed.”

“Yeah, maybe he lost that blessing. That, or the General’s gone soft on him.”

“...Mind saying that to my face?” Credo heard Nero’s voice. The white-haired warrior stood before the two men then, a scowl on his face. His right arm was still in a cast, which Credo couldn’t help but agree with the men on. Nero should’ve already missed healing. 

Both men freeze in place as Nero glares at them. “E-E-Eleison…we…”

Nero laughed, a laugh that was a little too cold. “What? Continue what you were talking about. I’d like to hear more about what you have to say about me and the Supreme General. Go on.” 

The Angel inside of Credo tensed up and growled in his head. It voiced a warning to him. “Stop him.”

The warning was urgent, and he couldn’t help but agree. The two soldiers were sweating and staring at Nero, who looked too calm. As Credo approached, he did notice something strange. The charm around Nero’s neck was glowing red, which made the teenager grab it before quickly hiding it away in his clothes. Credo frowned, wanting to know more about the charm now. The Supreme General quickly intervened, placing his hand on Nero’s tense shoulder. 

“Enough, the three of you have patrols to get to. Get going.” Credo commanded. Relief crossed the faces of the two soldiers, who quickly bowed their heads and then took off running. Credo had a sneaking suspicion that he just saved them from a walking bomb. 

He then lowered his voice to speak with Nero. “Do not pick a fight with the others, Nero. I do not want to have to discipline you.” 

Nero scoffed at that and then brushed his touch away. “I don’t need to be coddled, Credo. I’m capable of taking care of myself.” 

Credo frowned at that and then touched his right shoulder, causing him to stop. “I know you are, but fighting with our men doesn’t help anyone, especially with yourself.”

“Then you should suggest to your men to shut the hell up and mind their own business,” Nero responded, shrugging off his touch. “My arm will heal…eventually.”

“It should have healed by now. It has been months…and the doctors said that it wasn’t even broken.” Credo countered with a frown. He looks at the arm and then asks quietly, his voice shifting to the big brother voice. “Is something going on, Nero? You know you can talk to me.”

The teenager let out a growl, a growl? Credo frowned, and the angel inside of him seemed to growl in response. “Something is off.”

“I’m fine,” Nero responded quickly, brushing off his touch again, and the teenager took off for his patrol. 

Credo wanted to chase after him, but he had to attend a meeting with His Holiness and Dr. Agnus. They were meeting with someone who had brought them something they needed for the Savior Project. Yet, Credo wanted to speak more with his brother. Something was wrong. Something has been wrong for several months now, and both Eleison siblings have been becoming increasingly concerned. However, he knows he must attend this meeting. Perhaps Nero will cool off while on patrol, and they could speak privately. Well, all three of them could speak as Kyrie will demand to be part of the conversation. 

They were a family, and they needed to work this out together. 

So, he planned to speak with Kyrie before Nero arrived home, and they could sit down to have a family chat.

This meeting was important, and Credo noticed that a new person had joined the table. A woman with platinum blonde hair and dark skin. Her clothes…were rather revealing. Credo had to glance away, trying not to stare at what she wore for too long. She introduced herself as Gloria, and she made an offering that they couldn’t refuse. Before she could set it down on the table, though, a scientist burst into the room. 

“Forgive me for interrupting Your Holiness, but a demon has attacked the laboratory underneath Fortuna Castle!” The scientist exclaimed in panic. Credo stood up instantly, followed by Agnus, who sounded outraged. 

“Wh-Wh-What?! A-A demon?! How did i-i-it find the lab?!” The man practically screamed.

To his credit, Sanctus remained calm in his seat. A curious look passed over his expression as he stared at the table. Gloria looked surprised by this interruption. Sanctus then looked at Credo and then nodded. “Supreme General, I am sure you and your men can take care of this intruder.”

Credo bowed his head. “Of course, Your Holiness. Is the demon to die or be taken into custody?”

Sanctus smirked. “I am curious about this demon who has found our laboratory. Capture it and place it in containment for interrogation.” 

“Yes, Your Holiness.” Credo then turned to look at Agnus, who was still panicking. “Doctor. You'd best come with me. We have work to do.”

“I-I-Indeed. Once the demon is captured, then we shall interrogate i-i-it.” Agnus stated with a frown. Then he turned to the panicked scientist. “Su-Su-Summon the rest of the knights! We-We must capture this demon!”

Credo followed the doctor back to his laboratory, drawing his sword. What demon managed to find the laboratory? Why was it looking for the lab in the first place? Was it trying to break out the demons held there? How had the demon even sensed them? The Supreme General had many questions, but he doubted that they would get answered. The demon probably couldn’t even speak. Soon, they descended into the lab and stumbled upon the fallen bodies of scientists. There were slash marks on their bodies. 

 Were those from…claws? Credo frowned and then looked at Agnus. “Doctor, it might be best for you to wait outside…”

Agnus scoffed with a frown, and suddenly, he noticed the doctor was wielding a large broadsword. Where the hell did that come from? “D-D-D-Do not worry about me, General. I shall b-b-b-be able to defend myself against the demon.”

Something told him that wouldn’t be true. Credo sighed and nodded. “If you insist.”

Credo knelt and checked on the men, pressing his fingers to one of their necks. They weren’t dead, but unconscious. The demon hasn’t killed them. The General frowned, scanning the wounds. The slash marks were to the chest, not their throats, nor did it look like the demon tried to tear them apart. Was the demon not hungry for human blood? It clearly was trying not to kill anyone. 

Then Credo heard a cry of pain, and then General looked up. The Angel inside of him let out a soft growl in his mind. Careful, human. Credo grunted in acknowledgement and then took off running for the next room. Behind him, he hears Dr. Angus following after with a growl of his own. They burst through the door, and immediately, he noticed more scientists and even Order knights on the ground, bleeding from slash marks to the chests. Credo frowned and then heard a cry, seeing a man sent flying through the air and hitting against a nearby wall. 

His nostrils flared as he took in…a familiar scent. Vanilla and bergamot with a hint of something strange attached to it. He knows this scent. Why does he know that scent? Why was that scent here, of all places? Credo frowned, and quickly, he rushed over toward the man who had hit the wall, kneeling beside him. The fallen Knight looked up at him and grabbed his arm. “General…th-that thing…that thing…he wiped all of us out.” 

That thing? Credo frowned. “Where is it? What does it want?”

“Th-Th-That…!” Credo saw the man point, and the General shifted his gaze over to a container. The container that held…the broken pieces of the Yamato. 

That shattered katana was the key to opening up the hellgates around the island. He knows that Agnus had been trying to put the katana back together, but had failed miserably every time. He knows it was a constant source of frustration for the scientist. It was like…the blade refused to cooperate. The doctor had followed him inside, and he let out a cry.   

“M-M-My lab! What demon did th-th-this?!” The sniveling fool cried out in shock and then looked over to see someone standing at the container holding the Yamato. Agnus pointed at the figure dwelling in the darkness.  “Y-Y-You! I-I-I see you, demon!”

The figure stepped out of the darkness of the lab, and Credo inhaled a sharp breath. The figure had a pair of blood-red wings that shone brightly in the low-lit laboratory. Credo noticed that the creature had hair, which he swears he’s never seen a demon having. The hair was as black as night and wavy, going past his shoulders. The eyes of the demon were blood red, and Credo noted there were blue lines under those eyes, giving the demon an unfeeling look. Underneath his nose was a black-gold mask with strange gold tusks on the cheeks of the mask. From what skin he could see was grey-blue. Curved white horns were protruding from both sides of his head, and Credo noticed a straw hat over his head. Notably, the creature wore a white robe, almost like a funerary robe. 

Credo released the breath he had been holding as he stood up. The creature’s fingernails were long and glowing a vibrant blue. The demon looked at Agnus as the doctor pointed at him. His eyes blazed red as he met the gaze of the doctor. 

“You have something…that belongs to me.” The demon spoke and then turned to look at the katana. Suddenly, Credo could see that the broken pieces of the Yamato were glowing red now. Was the broken blade…responding to the figure?  

“Th-Th-That is Order property! J-J-Just like you will be, demon!” Agnus cried out and started to laugh. ”You are going to be a fascinating specimen.” 

Credo quickly moved to stand in front of the scientist. He really should leave the fighting to the damn professionals. The General pointed his sword at the mysterious demon, narrowing his eyes. This demon appeared so strange, and yet so familiar to him. Why? The demon reached out for the katana with its strange, scaled hand. 

“Do not move, demon. I am placing you under arrest.” Credo spoke clearly. The figure abruptly froze and then turned his head to look over his shoulder, and for a moment, just a moment, there was a flicker of familiarity in those red eyes. 

Why did the demon look at him like that? Yet, that look was fleeting, and the familiarity vanished instantly before the demon looked back at the container. 

“Come to me…Yamato.” 

Credo cried out as he took a step forward. “I said not to move, demon!”

Do not attack. The angel’s voice spoke up once more, and the General froze on the spot. His eyes widened in shock. Why did the angel inside of him want him not to attack this demon?! What was going on?! Credo held his sword tightly as he looked upon the strangely robed demon. This demon felt so…human. That was an odd thing to think, but there was something odd about the demon in front of him. 

“Why shouldn’t I attack him? He is stealing the Yamato!” Credo asked the angel inside. 

Do not attack, human. Credo snorted in response. That sure cleared things up. Suddenly, the room became flooded with an extraordinary amount of demonic power, and Credo turned to see that the Yamato was…repairing itself?! The pieces pressed against each other, the cracks disappearing as the sword repaired itself. The demon was staring right at the pieces when Credo saw a broadsword being tossed right at the demon’s head. Without looking, the wings moved as if on their own accord.

The wings had sharp talons at the end of them, and they snatched hold of the broadsword. The very same one Credo had seen in Agnus’s arms. Agnus was now staring wide-eyed at the wings and then soon, the katana. 

“H-H-H-How can this be?! Not even I could succeed in restoring it!” The man screamed in outrage. Credo noted the loss of his stutter in there. 

The container began to crack as the demonic energy of the katana overwhelmed it. The wing still held the broadsword, but in an instant, the wing shot out, stabbing the broadsword into Agnus’s arm. It pinned the man to the wall with it, causing the doctor to scream in pain. The container shattered into pieces, and the glowing red katana flew right into the demon’s arms. Credo heard a soft gasp from the demon. Soon, the blade flew into his right arm, before the demon turned to look Credo dead in the eye.

The flicker of familiarity was back once more, and the demon narrowed his eyes on him.  

“I’m taking this back.” 

Credo felt as if the demon was mocking him, and he gritted his teeth, enraged. His hand trembled as he held his sword. The angel within him told him not to attack the demon, but why? Did it know the demon somehow?! Did he know this demon?! How was that possible? Credo knew no demons. His eyes fell to the glowing katana. That katana belonged to the Order. It would play a central part in the Savior Project, and they were losing it to some humanoid-looking demon. A demon that didn’t kill a single man here. What did that mean?

He took another step forward, and the angel snarled in his mind, warning him not to attack. What was the angel, given to him through the ritual, not telling him? Credo gritted his teeth in frustration as he glared at the demon, who seemed to hold no hostility toward him. He was just…staring at him while he held the blade. 

“Do something, General!” Agnus shouted, and the General heard the sickening sound of a blade being removed from flesh. “Wh-Wh-Why are you just standing there?!” 

The demon turned his attention from Credo to the doctor and then let out a loud screech, a very demonic one. Around his body, spectral red dagger-like weapons appeared, and he sent them forth at Agnus. “DIE, SCUM!” 

Scum? That word hit Credo like a ton of bricks. That word was familiar. Credo finally moved, and he quickly blocked the oncoming daggers with his sword, keeping Agnus from getting harmed further. The demon narrowed his eyes more and screeched at him. “Outta my way!”

The demon told him to move out of the way. Why? Credo frowned. He was not the biggest fan of the doctor, far from it, but he had to do his duty to protect the scientist. The General stood between the masked demon and the injured doctor. 

“You will cease this attack, demon. Surrender, now.” Credo replied firmly. 

At that, the demon’s red eyes widened, and soon, he began to laugh hysterically. Madness filled the eyes of the demon as the power around him began to intensify. Credo gritted his teeth and recoiled at the overwhelming power. The demon continued to laugh, and in an instant, he was a blur. Credo looked around in shock, and he heard the angel inside of him hiss. Suddenly, the demon with bright red eyes was standing right beside him. The demon’s laughter was gone; in fact, the demon had calmed down. 

He whispered as it passed by Credo. "He who desires but acts not, breeds pestilence." 

The voice. Credo felt his heart skip a beat then. A very familiar voice. 

Then suddenly, Agnus let out a scream before he was ultimately silenced. Credo turned to see that the demon had stabbed the man right through the heart before pulling the blade out. Blood splattered onto the demon and the ground. Credo was now facing the figure with wide eyes as he lifted his arm, folding it inward as if flexing a muscle, then pressed the bloody blade to the arm, wiping it as he moved it, cleaning it in one fell swoop. Then he sheathed the blade into a sheath that appeared, but not all the way. 

In an instant, he drew it again, sending a wave of slash marks at Agnus’s body. Then the demon sheathed the blade with a loud snap, and Agnsu’s body fell apart. Credo’s heart was racing in his chest now as he stared wide-eyed at the demon who was now looking at him once more with a frown. The demon then walked right past him, leaving destruction in his wake. Credo whirled around as he followed the demon’s steps. 

Then it occurred to him. The demon had not laid a single finger on him. Why? He had attacked everyone else. Though only Agnus was dead. The others were merely hurt, while he was unscathed. Credo narrowed his eyes on the demon as he strode past the shattered container. 

“Wait!” Credo cried out, and the demon stopped once more. Though it did not stop the demon from drawing the katana once more. 

Credo gritted his teeth and stormed after the demon. “You attack my men…you killed Agnus…but you leave me unharmed…”

Now he stood behind the demon, who held the glowing katana. Credo could see now that he was close to him; he noticed he stood over him in height. “Why?!”

Suddenly, the wing shot out and shoved Credo roughly back from the demon. The demon huffed, as if annoyed by his words, and then turned, as he slashed the katana through the air. Credo frowned, and his eyes widened as he saw the two slash marks in the air…created a portal. The Yamato…could do that?! Agnus had never suggested that the Yamato could create portals before. Now, he was a witness to this portal creation. Without another word, the demon stepped through the portal, which closed behind him. 

Credo snarled, and he narrowed his eyes. The demon had gotten away. He turned and looked over at what remained of Agnus. How the hell was he going to explain all of this to His Holiness? Suddenly, in the distance, Credo could hear a wolf howling, and he frowned. How…How did he know? How did he hear anything of what happened here?

The General chewed on his lip before he looked over to the walls, noting that the security cameras were on and recording. So, they had evidence of this strange demon. Not only that, but evidence of what went on. If he gets a clear picture of the demon, then he can show it to Dr. Lupo. He was the Order’s second-best scientist…even if he never showed his face in public, not in twelve years. Yet…Credo is certain the hermit doctor would be interested in…the death of Dr. Agnus and this demon who slayed him. 

Credo inhaled sharply and heard footsteps coming. He looked up and saw his men approach. When they spotted him, they stopped and bowed their heads in respect. He quickly sheathed his sword and barked out orders. “Quickly, get the injured men and scientists to the infirmary. Also, I want the footage from the security cameras in the facility.” 

He would figure out where this demon came from, one way or another. 

Chapter Text

His breathing became heavy as he quickly shut the door. He was thankful that this hospital room was empty. Kyrie was in a different room from him, but it was better that way. She should not see what he was seeing at that moment. Panic rose in his chest as he pressed his back against the door, and he clutched his right hand tightly. Sweat rolled down his face as he stared down at his arm in horror. He had locked the door, but he needed to keep everyone out. 

Please let no one see. Please let no one see.

No one had noticed he hadn’t left his hospital room. Based on the fact that he heard no one scrambling around outside the room he locked himself in, he was safe. For now. The teenager bit his lower lip as he looked between the door and then the arm. He noticed more pieces of skin crumbled to the ground, and he suppressed a violent scream. Nero began to breathe in panic as more scales came into view. 

His shoulder was already covered in blue-grey scales. That was the first thing he noticed when he went to shower. Had he been hallucinating? He thought he was, but then as he scrubbed his right arm, more pieces of human skin began to crumble. Nero nearly screamed then. He quickly got dressed and then ran. The white-haired teenager now had to hide. 

No one could see this. Everyone would reject him. He would be considered the enemy and hunted down. Nero looked down at his other hand and saw the shaking. He was shaking. The white-haired teen hugged himself, tears starting to burn in his eyes. 

Nero didn’t want to be rejected, like he was by his birth parents. 

He had to leave Fortuna. He had to. Once they realized what he was…he was fucked. Nero’s lower lip trembled as he held his now glowing arm and started to sob quietly. 

Why? Why? 

Why am I a demon? Is that why I’m so different? Why do I heal so fast? Why are my senses so much better than everyone’s?  

Please, please, someone help me. I don’t want to go. I want to stay. 

He curled up into a ball against the door, crying quietly. Nero didn’t want to be a demon. He needed help. 

Cold reality hit him then, and he covered his mouth with his still-human hand. 

No one could help him.

No one could understand what he was going through. 

He was surrounded by humans and their weapons.

Nero let out a loud sob and clenched his demonic hand tightly before burying his face against his knees. He had no one.

He would have to grab his clothes, sneak home, and pack lightly. No one here would get it. The mainland would be the safest place for him, safer than here anyway. He would never see Kyrie or Credo again. He would never go to the training yard and train with Orlando or Romeo or anyone else again. 

Suddenly, a warm hand touched his face. Nero jerked away, but for some reason, the touch was gentle. It was…understanding. He lifted his head then and stared at the person who touched him. There was no fear coming from…a woman. She wore a grotesque, red mask, but he could see the bottom half of her face. She was smiling at him. A real smile. Nero sniffled, and slowly, he leaned into her touch as she spoke.

“There, there, little one. There is no need to be afraid. You are beautiful the way you are.”

-

The moment that he obtained the footage from the security systems, Credo headed for the hermit doctor’s home. The men asked if he was going to His Holiness first, but he said he would report in later. No, he needed the expertise of someone whom he trusted. Dr. Lupo was far removed from the politics of the Order, staying safe inside his home where no one would dare intrude. Well, except himself and the previous Supreme General, Alessandro Eleison. He inherited his father’s…charge wasn’t quite the right word. Dr. Lupo was older than him, but was younger than his father had been. 

Credo bit his lip as he strode through the streets. No, charge wasn’t the correct word to describe the hermit. He struggled to find the right word to describe the relationship he would have with the doctor from his father. The man was in dire need of more friendly faces in his life. There was one person that he should build a relationship with…but the man was…frightened. Dr. Lupo would never admit this fear to him, too stubborn, but Credo could see the fear there. The General sighed heavily. The one person he wanted to see…likely didn’t realize he existed.

He had been too young when Dr. Lupo first visited. Credo didn’t forget, though. The tears, the way he embraced the boy, and the agony on his face when he finally left the house. The day remained burned into his memory. The General closed his eyes, remembering. 

Nero. Nero was confused by the crying man. The little boy looked up at the crying man, who knelt in front of him and took him into his arms. Credo tensed up at the contact. He was certain that Nero would demand that the strange crying man put him down. Credo saw the wound on his face, covered up by bandages. The man had stared down at Nero as he played with his toys, a longing look on his face. The boy had not noticed him at first, not until the man knelt before him. Nero stared at the man with his big blue eyes. 

Now, the man was holding him, sobbing loudly. Father stood by, watching with a sad look in his eyes. Credo stepped forward, but Father placed a hand on his shoulder and shook his head.

“It is all right, Credo. This man is safe, he is…is a little lost. A little sad.” 

The young man frowned and then nodded before looking at Nero. Nero held onto the man, not fighting him. The tiny boy…wanted to comfort him? 

“...Are you okay…?” Nero whispered gently, reaching up to touch the side of his face that wasn’t bandaged. “Why are you crying…? Is your cheek hurting?”

The man did not answer, lost in his crying. Nero didn’t look offended as he rubbed the man’s back gently, wanting to comfort him the best way that he could. Credo was surprised by the boy’s restraint. Then, he heard the man whispering. 

“I’m sorry…I’m so sorry…I’m so sorry…” 

Nero blinked in surprise. “What do you have to be sorry about…? It’s okay…you don’t have to be sorry.” 

Credo opened his eyes and then sighed quietly. That was more than a decade ago. By now, Nero would have all but forgotten that day. The General soon approached the house at the end of a street. A two-story home with a large backyard and large windows. Windows that were always covered by curtains so no one would take a peek inside and see the mess. Well, the mess was mostly stacks of books. At least Dr. Lorenzo Lupo was well-read. When he or his father visited, the man spent time telling him what he had read recently. The man would likely chat his ear off about his latest interest. 

He knocked on the door and heard the sound of someone sitting up and groaning. Credo winced, realizing he woke up the hermit. When did he go to bed last night? Or…was it this morning? The doctor needed to get a good night's sleep. Credo hoped that the news he brought with him would put the doctor's mind at ease. The General waited patiently as he heard the doctor stumble to the door. 

“Who is it at this hour…? Wait…fuck, it's almost dinner time.” He could hear the doctor mumble to himself, and then the door opened. 

The man had forgotten his glasses, his eyes were heavy with sleep, and his hair was unbrushed. He was wearing a purple robe, but he caught a glimpse of the man's white Order robes underneath. Credo held in a sigh. This was not the first time he had found the man in such a disheveled state. Was it one of the bad days? The man narrowed his blue eyes and sighed heavily. 

“...You are late…a month late, General.” The disheveled man stood, leaning against the door. He sighed and then rubbed his forehead before frowning thoughtfully. “I think.”

Credo sighed heavily. “Forgive me for not visiting sooner, doctor. It's been a tough month.”

The man snorted as he narrowed his eyes, his blue eyes studying him. “Looks like it's been a rough day, General.”

The General rolled his eyes. The man did love to tease him. “I thought you were nearsighted, old man.”

The doctor burst into laughter and then gestured for the General to come inside. “General, I don't need my glasses to know when you're nearby. I could smell you a mile away.”

Credo sighed and came inside the house, nearly running into a pile of books. He groaned as he brushed against the pile and quickly grabbed the pile to keep it from falling. “And yet, you didn't realize I was coming.”

Lupo huffed as he brushed by him and the pile of books. “You caught me in the middle of a nap.”

A nap that was likely ruining his sleep schedule. Credo had lectured him many times about sleeping in a normal routine. Of course, the doctor just gave him a deadpanned look and then did whatever he wanted. The General could not help but worry about the man, though. Lupo moved to the living room, brushing past more piles of books and…were those videotapes? Right, Father had given the man a video player so the doctor could have some different forms of entertainment other than books. This was perfect. 

“Ah, you've had a busy day then, old man. How long have you been napping for?” Credo quipped to him as he moved to sit on the couch. 

The man huffed, removing the robe, hanging it up. Indeed, he was wearing his Order uniform, which was probably the most proper thing about him right now. The doctor looked around, feeling around for something. Credo spotted the man's glasses beside the couch, and then he picked them up.

“I have them, doctor. I came here for your help.” 

“Ahh, so this is business. I feel like we haven't talked business in ages.” Lupo hummed as he approached the couch. The doctor took the glasses and placed them on his face. 

The doctor sat next to him and leaned back against the couch. “So, what do you need from little ol’ me? A consultation? Ready to be my first patient in over a decade?”

Credo sighed. “Sorry to disappoint you, doctor. I know you want some company…but not today. No, I have something important to show you. You see…”

He holds up the videotapes to the doctor, who looks at them with a raised eyebrow. Credo explained. “The laboratory underneath Fortuna Castle was broken into, and the Order's property was stolen. Our men were injured.”

The doctor looked at the tape, and he sighed softly. Lupo took the tape. “And how am I supposed to help with this exactly?”

Credo frowned. “I thought that if you show you what I saw…you could tell me more about this intruder. This demon.”

Lupo's face lit up, and Credo saw the look of intrigue on his face. Once he mentioned da demon, he knew the doctor would be curious. Lupo moved to put the videotape in. Credo was curious, too. He would be seeing the footage before he and Dr. Agnus arrived. The man in charge of security gave him the tape containing the footage of before, during, and after the attack. The screen flickered on, and the cameras gave a full view of the laboratory. Credo saw the scientists standing around with their clipboards. A couple stood in front of the broken katana, examining it thoroughly.

He noticed Lupo lean forward as the cameras flickered between various parts of the lab. Then suddenly, a body fell into frame, some blood splattering to the ground. Both men looked, and the camera focused on the red-winged individual. Thankfully, the footage was in color. He saw Lupo's eyes light up. 

“Wings…red and almost…transparent.” Lupo nodded, and beside his side of the couch, he grabbed a notebook and pen. Credo saw him write down his observations. 

“The wings had talons at the end. Like a large bird's.” Credo adde, and the doctor raised an eyebrow before noting that. Credo watched the figure slowly make his way down the hallway, almost silently. Another scientist must have heard the cries and approached, sword in hand. 

The figure nonchalantly raised his wing, and the talons slashed his chest. The man fell wounded. Dr. Lupo frowned. “A straw hat? Interesting. I've only seen those in foreign films, a ronin.”

Credo raised an eyebrow, and the doctor quickly clarified.“A ronin is a Japanese warrior who has no master to follow. I see the demon has something else strange, long black hair.”

“You've never seen a demon with hair before?” The General asked with a frown. How unique was this demon?

Lupo shook his head. “No. Never. But then again, there are many demons out there that we've never seen before. Some might exist in myth, but could be just as real as our Scarecrow demons.”

Myths. Why did he get the feeling that the doctor had been studying the mythology of different cultures? The General shifted his gaze to the various piles of books. How many of the books were of things that the doctor read on a whim? How many of these books was he actually interested in? How many could he help the man get rid of eventually? The General smiled softly at Lupo.

“Has mythology been your topic of interest recently, doctor?” Credo asked. 

Dr. Lupo glanced away at that and then coughed into his arm. “...Perhaps. Not any culture in particular, but…I suppose Shinto mythology has caught my interest recently. Anyway…”

The two of them returned to the video. Credo noticed that the figure in the straw hat was still walking down the hallway before he stopped and turned to look at the camera, looking down at him. He frowned, and they got a better glimpse of the demon. Dr. Lupo grabbed his remote and paused the footage on the demon, narrowing his eyes. Credo shivered when he saw the red eyes glaring at the camera with contempt. 

“...What the hell…?” Dr. Lupo mumbled, and then Credo inhaled sharply. The doctor rubbed his chin, which was starting to sport a small beard. When was the last time he shaved? Then the man launched into a mumbling rant.  “Long black hair, blue lines under his eyes, and a white funerary robe. Where have I seen that before? Where have I read about that before?” 

Ah, the mumbling. It was one of the many bad habits that the doctor had. The problem was that once the doctor got going with his mumbling, it was difficult to stop him. Credo wondered when he should break him out of his rant. He started to reach out to touch his shoulder before the man hopped off the couch and took off running for a pile of books. The General raised an eyebrow at that. The man knelt and started to look over the book titles.  

“Doctor…?” Credo called after him in concern as the man shoved books out of a pile. The pile collapsed quickly until the doctor pulled out one. Credo frowned as the man ignored him, mumbling under his breath again.

“Black hair, white robe, blue lines…where is it? Where is it?” Dr. Lupo mumbled as he turned pages with frantic interest. 

Credo was about to stand, but then the doctor let out a cry before rushing back to the couch. He was holding a black bound book, and then sat back down. The doctor then shoved the book right into the General’s hands. Credo raised an eyebrow with interest and then looked at the page that he was given to look at. His eyes widened when he found a woman with long black hair that covered her face, who wore a white robe. 

“What the hell is this?” Credo asked, and then his eyes went to the page. 

“That,” The doctor pointed to the picture of the woman. “Is what you were looking at. It is called an Onry ō. ” 

Credo frowned at that as he tried his best to pronounce the word, and the doctor scowled at that. Lupo huffed and spoke it again. “Onry ō.”

The doctor then adjusted his glasses as he went on to explain. “ Onry ō are spirits who died in rather horrible ways and seek to take vengeance on the living. For example, there was a politician who was banished from an imperial court after being accused of favoring someone who wasn’t the crown prince of his kingdom. He died in exile, and it is said that his spirit returned, wreaking havoc, including plagues, droughts, and the deaths of the imperial family. That is not the worst example. When you look at the stories, most of the Onry ō are women who were betrayed by their husbands. One Onry ō came back and ripped off the head of her husband’s new bride.”

Credo flinched. What ghastly stories these were! He glanced down at the book and noticed a description. “The spirit could look like anything, but the typical portrayal of the Onry ō is a woman with long, unkempt black hair that covers her face until she reveals it. If you do see her eyes, you will notice blue lines underneath them. Finally, she is often depicted wearing a white funerary robe.”

Lupo then stood up and pointed to the footage on the TV. “That sounds exactly like this demon. A male Onry ō.”

The General frowned. “And who would this Onry ō be trying to exact revenge on, doctor? No one in the Order has passed recently. Not to mention…you haven’t seen all of the footage.”

The doctor frowned and then folded his arms over his chest. “That’s true, but you did want me to help you figure out what kind of demon this was.” 

“Yes, that’s right, but there is more.” Credo insisted gently, setting the book down beside him. He grabbed the remote while the doctor returned to the couch. Credo paused and then bit his lip. “Not to mention…doctor, there is something in this footage that you will find very intriguing.” 

“Oh?” Lupo raised an eyebrow and then hummed. “And this Onry ō isn’t already interesting enough?” 

Credo glanced to the side before he continued to play the footage. The demon approached a container, one containing the broken pieces of Yamato. The camera seemed to zoom in on the demon and the shards. Then he noticed the doctor beside him tense up, and he frowned. What was that reaction about? Credo frowned and then caught himself and Agnus entering the camera’s view. Then he heard a loud growl beside him, and he looked over to see the man’s blue eyes shift. His dark blue eyes turned to a lighter blue, and his mouth opened, revealing sharpened canines. Credo flinched. He knows the man felt an intense loathing. 

The General dared to reach out and touch his shoulder. The man flinched, and Credo was certain the doctor was going to shove him away. Yet, the doctor did not pull away; instead, the doctor looked down and took a deep breath. 

“Bug bastard.”

“Keep watching, doctor. Please.” The General implored him gently, and the doctor looked up at the screen once more. They watched more in silence. 

Credo watched as the demon's power fixed the Yamato, and he saw the General tense up again. The auburn-haired man watched the doctor's eyes widen in shock as the katana was fixed and then flew into the demon's hand. Credo remembered how the sword glowed blood red, like the demon's wings. The mad look in his eyes when he looked at Credo and started to laugh hysterically. He recalls the power radiating off the demon as he stood between it and Agnus. Credo saw the demon move in a flash, then as the words it spoke came to mind.

“He who desires, but acts not, breeds pestilence…”

That grabbed the attention of the doctor, who stared at him wide-eyed. “What?”

Credo turned his head to look at Dr. Lupo, surprised. “The demon…it said that. ‘He who desires, but acts not, breeds pestilence.’ Do you…know it?”

Many emotions flooded the man's eyes. Emotions that caught him off guard before, the doctor was quick to compose himself. The doctor folded his arms. “William Blake. A poet.”

Credo frowned at that. “That was…rather quick. You know the man's poems well? You didn't strike me as a lover of poetry.”

Lupo frowned in return and then hummed as he glanced to the side. “...I had a friend once…he loved Blake. He quoted Blake often. That was from one of the poems he enjoyed.”

A friend who enjoyed Blake? He was surprised by the fact that the man once had friends, but then again, he knows his father left notes behind. Alessandro claimed the man had two friends, and through those friends, he knew Nero. 

Then, then came the moment, Agnus's death. Lupo froze, staring at the screen, entranced by the screams of the doctor as he was killed by the demon. Agnus was then cut to pieces with such efficiency, and Dr. Lupo swiftly stood up in shock. Before he stood, Credo swore there was a look of recognition in the man's eyes. A recognition that shocked him to the core as the man stood there, staring at the screen. How could the doctor recognize the demon on the screen? Then the demon would create a portal, leaving Credo unharmed. 

“...The demon did not harm you. Not even that shove would've bruised you.” The doctor spoke up. He was now looking to the side, hiding any emotions brewing in his eyes. “Why?”

“I have been asking myself that same question, doctor.” Credo frowned. “The demon…it looked at me like it…knew me. 

The doctor did not respond. Credo looked at the man who was looking away, staring at the nearby wall. What was he thinking? Was he thinking about what he had just witnessed? Or…was he thinking about the fact that now, he was free? Suddenly, the doctor began to laugh. Credo knew how the man laughed. He had been a witness to numerous mental breakdowns that he often had to snap the doctor out of. However, this…this laughter was one of sadistic satisfaction. 

“The vermin…the vermin is dead.” Credo knew that Lupo was smirking now. He then chuckled darkly. “You could have led with that, General. How dare you tease me with this footage?”

Credo sighed softly. He knew that would be the other’s reaction. It meant that all the hermit doctor’s fears could disappear now. The doctor then started for the hallway, and Credo was quick to stand. He followed after the hermit doctor, noticing that he was heading to the front door. Credo paused and stared at the man’s back as he approached the door. He saw him hesitate briefly, his hands around the doorknob. He hears the man let out a soft breath. Is he hesitating right now? Is the doctor afraid of what he will find out there, in a world that he did not know or understand anymore? Credo held his breath, but expelled it when he saw the doctor push open the door. Well, not too hard, he knows the doctor’s strength was more than it seemed. The doctor then moved to step outside, and Credo heard him draw in a long, deep breath. 

Credo approached and then moved to stand beside the older man as he stood on the steps of his home. The General placed his arms behind his back while the hermit doctor stood there, taking in deep breaths of fresh air. It was calm and quiet for a little bit as the two men stood there. He saw the doctor staring up at the sky. Part of him wished he knew what the doctor was thinking in that mind of his. But then again, he doesn’t want to know because he knows how strange the doctor can get.

“...Nero, how is he?” 

The question didn’t completely catch him off guard. He knew the question would pop up eventually. With every meeting, the doctor wished to know how the boy was doing. 

Credo closed his eyes. “Lately…he has been rather moody. He has been snapping at Kyrie and me…even over the smallest things.”

The doctor hummed in amusement. “The boy is a teenager now. I hate to break it to you, General, but teenagers are supposed to be moody and rebellious.” 

The General scoffed. Did the doctor forget that he was a teenager once upon a time? “I know, doctor. You were one as well, but this feels…different.”  

Lupo laughed at that. “Different? Trust me, General, when I was a teenager, my friends and I got into all sorts of shenanigans. One of them stole alcohol, and we challenged each other to see who could get tipsy first. I lost.” 

Credo looked at him in surprise and then burst into laughter. The doctor had drunk stolen alcohol? He’s never heard that story before. “Any other crimes you got up to in your youth you wish to report, old man?”

The older man huffed in amusement, and for once, he could see the man smiling. A genuine smile. “Well…Cristina did hit a knight guarding some of the Order’s restricted research with a big rock and knocked him out. Our other friend was just going to knock him out with his sword, and I argued that it would cause more problems. Then BAM , she knocked the knight out and we stood there, dumbfounded.” 

The two men laughed at the stories of Lupo’s youth. Then the doctor cleared his throat. “My original point, a teenager’s moodiness is different with everyone. I’m sure he is just going through something.” 

Credo sighed softly and rubbed the back of his head.. “If you are certain, doctor…but still, it started after he found that weird bell charm. He never takes it off.”

Lupo raised an eyebrow at that and then looked out on the street curiously. “Is he…out on patrol, right now? Does he have one tomorrow?”

The General smiled gently and then chuckled softly. With Agnus dead, he was now eager to come outside and to see Nero. Then again, he cannot blame him. 

“He does. He should be at the headquarters with the other knights to receive their orders for the day.” Credo responded and then hummed quietly. “I could take him off the roll for the day…”

The hermit froze and then chuckled weakly. “I don’t know if I am…ready to remeet him again…I only hope that he does not remember our first meeting.”

Credo smirked at that. “And what if he does remember?”

Lupo scowled and huffed. The doctor folded his arms. “I truly hope not…I did not make a very good first impression…” 

He supposed that appearing before the child and embracing him before emotionally breaking down wasn’t the best impression. Credo didn’t know if Nero recalled that day. It was so long ago, and he was five years old. He was almost a teenager when it happened, so he remembered it clearly.  Credo reached out and touched his shoulder gently. 

“If he does…you don’t have to explain everything right away,” Credo told him gently. “At least…approach him and introduce yourself. “

The doctor sighed softly. “Alright…I suppose I will be introducing myself a lot tomorrow. Tomorrow is the day I return to the Order.”

Credo wondered if that was a good idea or not. But he knows the doctor is stubborn. Lupo hummed softly while Credo responded. “His Holiness will welcome you back with open arms with…you-know-who dead, you will be elevated in rank to Head Scientist.” 

“Not only that, but since the Yamato is stolen, our progress on the Savior Project is halted. We will have to retrieve the katana from the demon. His Holiness ordered that we capture the demon and interrogate it.” Credo continued, and he suddenly felt the man tense up. Then it quickly disappeared.

“I see…then perhaps we shall be able to get answers from it.” The doctor replied with a frown and then looked at the General. “Forgive me, I must prepare for tomorrow. I must…look far more presentable than I look currently.”

Credo got another look at him, noticing again how much of a beard the man was starting to grow. He huffed in amusement. “You do need a shave, old man.”

The hermit doctor huffed in response. “And you need a good rest tonight, General, because I’m sure you will have to deal with me all day tomorrow.”  

The General let out a groan. “Do not remind me, old man.”