The forest was quiet in the way only southern nights could be, heavy with insects, damp earth, and the low rustle of leaves settling after movement.
Alastor dragged the body behind him with little effort, humming to himself as though this were merely another evening stroll. Blood darkened the grass in a thin, careless trail.
Behind him, the air cooled.
Not sharply. Not suddenly. Just enough.
“So,” Alastor said cheerfully, without turning around, “do you prefer the woods, or do you just enjoy watching me work?”
Death followed at an unhurried pace, boots never quite touching the ground. Her cloak brushed the undergrowth, shadows clinging to it like obedient things.
“You’re inefficient tonight,” she replied.
“Oh?” He glanced back, grin intact. “That’s disappointing. I was feeling inspired.”
“They count,” she said flatly.
He laughed. “You’re very strict for someone who keeps me company.”
They walked a little farther. The body bumped against a tree root. Alastor adjusted his grip, unfazed.
He tilted his head, listening.
“You’re quiet,” he observed. “Usually by now you’ve already collected.”
“In a moment,” Death said. “I’m waiting.”
“For what?” he asked, genuinely curious.
A bark shattered the night.
Alastor turned instinctively, eyes narrowing, annoyance flickering across his features.
Alastor felt it before he understood it. A sudden, violent force snapped through his skull, light exploding behind his eyes.
He hit the ground without ceremony.
Just a soft, startled sound of disbelief.
“Oh,” she said. “That’s unfortunate.”
"Is everything okay!?"
"Yeah! I think I shot a deer!"
“If only you knew,” Death murmured.
She stepped closer, crouching beside Alastor’s fallen body.
His soul hovered above him already, half-formed, blinking in confusion.
“…Really?” Alastor said, looking down at himself. “A deer?”
Death straightened, brushing imaginary dirt from her gloves.
He stared at her, then broke into laughter.
“I suppose I can’t argue with that.”
She gathered the other soul first, the victim’s, gentle, efficient. Then she held out her hand to him.
“Come on,” she said. “You’re holding up the line.”
Alastor waited patiently.
He stood at the edge of the void, hands folded behind his back, posture impeccable, humming softly as souls shuffled past him one by one.
Death worked methodically. Judgment. Direction. Release.
Alastor stepped forward, grin bright as ever.
“So,” he said, “that’s how it ends.”
She flipped through parchment, eyes narrowing slightly.
“Yes,” she replied. “You planned ahead.”
She read aloud, unimpressed. “Contract signed. Power upon arrival. Influence. Immunity from lesser authority. By: Rosie”
“You sound disappointed.”
He inclined his head politely. “It felt appropriate.”
Death closed the document.
“Well,” she said dryly, “try not to make a mess.”
He laughed as the ground opened beneath him.
“Oh, my dear,” Alastor replied, tipping an imaginary hat as he fell, “you know me.”
And Death watched him go.
For longer than she should have.
Back in the lobby, Y/N leaned against a pillar, arms crossed, watching the chaos unfold.
Angel Dust was crouched on the couch, poking at a flower that had sprouted out of the carpet.
“It winked at me,” he whispered. “I don’t like it.”
Y/N looked at him, "For whatever reason, she likes flowers with eyes."
Niffty was vibrating with excitement, following Gaia in tight circles. “You make things grow! Can you make my knives grow? Bigger knives??”
Husk squinted at Gaia over his glass. “I don’t trust anything that cheerful.”
Gaia smiled at him brightly. A vine curled around his leg.
Husk sighed. “…I really don’t trust anything that cheerful.”
Y/N let out a quiet breath.
She checked the caller ID.
She answered immediately. “Hey- yeah. No, I’m fine. I told you, Hell’s loud, not dangerous.”
“Mm-hm… yeah. That’s good. I’m glad.”
She glanced toward Gaia, who was now crouched on the floor, fascinated by a cockroach Nifty was stabbing.
“Gaia? Yeah, she’s with me. She probably left her phone somewhere. Again. She probably left it in a forest. Or a tide pool. Or inside a cow.”
Y/N’s expression softened just slightly.
“…Okay. I’ll tell her. We’ll be there.”
Life looked up, eyes sparkling. “Hi!”
“Aww,” Gaia pouted. “Already?”
“Yes. Before something else breaks.”
Gaia hopped to her feet. “Okay! Bye everyone!”
Angel waved. “Bye weird sunshine lady!”
Niffty saluted. “Come back soon!!”
Husk grunted. “Take your plants with you.”
Gaia blew them a kiss. The vine retreated.
At first glance, it looked like Heaven.
But dimmed. Muted. Filtered through shadow.
Golden floors, walls, and ceiling, but every surface was softened by heavy black curtains draped carefully along the edges, blocking the worst of the radiance. The light that remained was warm, controlled.
A simple wooden table sat in the center. Four chairs. Tea already poured. Pastries arranged neatly.
Y/N relaxed the instant her boots hit the floor.
“Thank you,” she murmured, mostly to the room itself.
Gaia looked around, impressed. “Ooooh. Cozy.”
Before Y/N could respond-
And slammed shut just as fast.
“WAIT- NO- DON’T TOUCH ME- YES I’LL SIGN IT- PLEASE STOP ASKING ABOUT MY HANDS-”
A muffled chorus erupted from the other side of the door.
“CAN I SEE IT??”
“BLESS ME!”
“I LOVE YOU SO MUCH-”
Inside the room stood Jesus, slightly disheveled, robe wrinkled, hair tied back hastily, breathing hard.
“…Sorry,” he said. “Crowd got out of hand.”
Behind him, floating gracefully and laughing softly, was the Speaker of God, wings shimmering like moonlight through feathers, vast eyes kind and knowing.
“Oh, they get excited,” she said fondly.
Y/N snorted. “You’re a rock star. Deal with it.”
Jesus smiled when he saw her. “Oh, hey! You made it.”
“Your fans are terrifying,” Y/N replied.
He laughed, pulling out a chair. “Sit. Please.”
Gaia reached for a pastry. “Ooooh, these look amazing.”
“Old habits,” Jesus said, pouring tea. “Breaking bread and all that.”
Y/N eyed the spread. “Beautiful table.”
“Thanks,” he replied casually. “Been practicing.”
Gaia grinned. “Do we play cards? Or maybe-”
“No,” Y/N cut in immediately.
Jesus raised a brow. “Still bitter about the chess match?”
“You stalled me for three days,” Y/N said. “Three. Fucking. Days.”
“Come on, you already knew I was gonna win.”
Gaia giggled. “Let’s do cards!”
“Traitors,” she muttered, taking her cup.
They played. They talked. Time bent around them.
Then Y/N set her cup down.
“There’s something,” she said.
“Sera,” Y/N continued, “has been sending exterminator angels into Hell.”
The Speaker’s feathers rustled.
Gaia frowned. “Oh, yeah, right.”
“Led by Adam,” Y/N added. “They’re killing sinners.”
Jesus blinked. “She’s doing what?”
“I thought you knew,” Y/N replied.
The Speaker tilted her head. “This was… never approved by any of us.”
Y/N’s eyes glinted faintly red. “Souls that die twice don’t go where they’re supposed to. Apparently, they come to me. My place is getting full.”
Gaia’s smile faded completely.
“That’s not fair,” she whispered.
“No,” Y/N agreed. “It’s not.”
Jesus exhaled slowly. “Adam never was subtle. Was he?”
Y/N leaned back in her chair. “And now, he moved the extermination sooner.”
The Speaker’s wings flared once, sharp and contained.
“That will have consequences.”
Y/N smiled thinly. “I think it already does. I know you're not in good terms with Hell, but they're handling it.”
Somewhere far below, Hell prepared for war.
Y/N set her empty teacup down with a soft clink.
“Well,” she said, standing. “This was… nice.”
Jesus looked mildly disappointed. “Already going?”
“Yes,” she replied plainly. “Souls don’t process themselves.”
The Speaker inclined her head. “Duty before comfort. As always.”
Gaia stretched dramatically. “I’ll come with you!”
Y/N gave her a sideways look. “Of course you will.”
Goodbyes were exchanged, casual, warm. The kind that came from beings who had shared centuries of quiet conversations and disasters alike.
Y/N opened another portal.
Her realm greeted them with silence.
The void stretched endlessly, dark and familiar, broken only by pale paths of light and the soft murmur of waiting souls. A long line had already formed, men, women, children, sinners, saints, some confused, some resigned, some still screaming.
Y/N rolled her shoulders once.
“Alright,” she murmured. “Let’s get to it.”
Methodical. Precise. Gentle when needed, firm when required.
Gaia floated nearby the entire time, legs swinging as she sat on nothing, humming softly, occasionally waving at a soul that recognized her and burst into relieved tears.
“Hi!” Gaia whispered cheerfully. “You’re doing great.”
Y/N didn’t answer, but the corner of her mouth twitched.
Time passed strangely, as it always did there. When the last soul finally drifted away, Y/N exhaled deeply and leaned back against one of the black pillars lining her realm.
Gaia clapped. “You’re amazing.”
“Wanna see what Hell’s doing?” Gaia asked.
She raised her hand, and a mirror bloomed into existence, tall, wide, its surface rippling like still water.
Angels and demons clashed across shattered streets. Golden wings tore through smoke, red blood splashed across ruined concrete. Charlie stood at the center, blazing with defiance, Vaggie fighting at her side with precision.
Alastor’s laughter crackled through the battlefield, his cane splitting halos in half.
Angel Dust fired relentlessly.
Cherri Bomb cackled, explosions lighting her grin.
Niffty darted through chaos like a delighted gremlin.
And behind them
Gaia’s eyes widened. “…Did they organize that?”
Y/N conjured a bucket of popcorn and handed one to her sister. “Apparently.”
Sir Pentious appeared, dramatic as ever, kissed Cherri Bomb full on the mouth-
-and charged Adam’s war machine with a scream of pure, idiotic bravery.
Sir Pentious died gloriously, spectacularly, tragically.
“…That was beautiful,” Gaia whispered, wiping a tear.
Y/N straightened slightly. “Took him long enough.”
Lucifer dismantled Adam with ease, every punch shaking the battlefield. Adam staggered, furious, screaming about vengeance, Heaven, and consequences
“I WILL MAKE YOU PAY FOR—”
Y/N and Gaia froze mid-bite, popcorn halfway to their mouths.
“…Oh,” Gaia said faintly.
From far above, in Heaven, Jesus did the same, hand still hovering over his teacup.
The Speaker blinked once. “…Oh Lord.”
Y/N slowly lowered her popcorn. “…Well.”
Gaia nodded. “That was entertaining.”
They dispelled the mirror.
Gaia floated upright. “I should go.”
“I have… thingies,” Gaia said vaguely. “Also I really need to find my phone.”
“Try not to put real eyes on flowers,” Y/N said. “Humans don’t like that.”
Gaia grinned. “No promises.”
She vanished in a burst of warmth and petals.
Y/N turned, ready to finally rest.
A flash of blinding white tore through her realm from floor to ceiling, ripping upward like lightning given voice. The void shook. The air screamed.
Y/N staggered back. “What the fuck!?”
The light vanished as suddenly as it appeared, piercing straight through the ceiling of nothingness and disappearing beyond her perception.
At the center of her realm, a small, sleeping soul drifted into existence.
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