- Death's side (Past) -
Death's battle with [Creator] had taken over most discussions in Purgatory and Heaven. If not for the [Creator] claiming partial fault for the fight the angels would have viewed Death as an enemy.
"The [Hunter] lost! Can you believe that thing lost?"
"It was a close fight from what I heard?"
"Don't call the [Hunter] a 'thing'."
Death had initially refused to do his daily walks after the fight. [Creator] assured Death that it was for the best if the two of them were seen together being amicable to help prevent rumors of hostility. Despite Death's misgivings, he understood the importance of not making enemies out of the angels.
"Lovely weather," [Creator] remarked.
"Is it?" Death responded emotionlessly. "I prefer rain."
[Creator] chuckled nervously, "That's surprising, given that you were a wanderer."
"Washes away..." Death trailed off.
[Creator] changed the subject, "You've met most of my children at this point, haven't you?"
"Mmm," Death shrugged. "You keep calling them that, but they aren't actually your children, right? At least not in the human sense?"
[Creator] turned his head and covered his eyes to hide the severe look of anger on his face. The shift in [Creator's] body language didn't go unnoticed by Death. Death stared at [Creator] briefly as the two walked, suppressing the "instincts" he had felt before the two's fight. The curious stares the two had been getting started to shift to ones of concern.
"In the human sense," [Creator] spoke through his teeth, "No...but one does not need to have a child to be a parent to children."
Death tried his best to ease the tension, "Sorry if that comment upset you, you should know that I mean no insult with my words."
"Right..." [Creator] sighed with frustration, "Just be more careful with how you refer to my children's and mine's relationship from now on."
Nearby, two angels who had been surreptitiously observing Death and [Creator] shuddered at the sight of their father's anger.
"Hope he doesn't take that out in training later," One of the angels commented.
Despite the best efforts of those trying to watch Death and [Creator] secretly, Death was well aware of their presence. Death wasn't sure if he should make it known to his observers that he knew they were watching or not. Death thought it might upset [Creator] to learn that they were being watched, so he decided to go with a question instead.
"How did the creation of your children happen?"
[Creator] clenched his fists.
"More specifically, why haven't you made more?"
[Creator] stopped walking with Death. "I think it's for the best if we part ways for today since you can't watch your m--" he stopped himself. "Please refrain from asking me any questions about my children the next time we meet unless you have a problem with one of them."
As Death watched [Creator] fly away, he couldn't help staring at the look of terror on the nearby angels' faces.
"I wonder if Gabriel is back yet?"
Gabriel had been away on travels for a few years, finally returning a little after the fight between Death and [Creator]. Gabriel was so exhausted by the information that he ended up assuming neither his father nor Death had died. Most of the angels assumed Gabriel had surmised the outcome through intelligence instead of apathy. Gabriel was almost as surprised to hear that Death had invited him to speak.
"'Instincts', huh?" Gabriel said. "Well, you're both still alive and on good enough terms that I suppose it isn't worth worrying about."
Gabriel's tone was tired in a way that Death wasn't used to. Death surprised Gabriel once more.
"Are you okay?"
Gabriel was snapped out of his fatigue by Death's concern. "Y-yes, just tired--or as tired as an archangel can be, I suppose."
Death told Gabriel about the conversation he had with [Creator] prior. Gabriel shook his head.
"It's partly my fault. I should have told you what topics are forbidden when speaking to my Father. Did none of the documents you've been given have a list on them? I'm certain I gave you at least one that mentioned the forbidden topics?"
"I..." Death hesitated, "I haven't read any of them. I assumed the documents you gave me were just a show to pretend to the other beings that I do non-violent work here..."
Gabriel slinked down in his chair. "Please, if you do anything for me today, please read all the documentation you've been given up to this point. I'm sure some of it will be irrelevant now, but...please."
"Sorry," Death earnestly apologized.
Gabriel had been informed of everything that had happened during his absence. He was sure he had a decent grasp on the state of Purgatory and Heaven, and for the most part, he did, however, Death's demeanor seemed to be drastically different from what he had expected. It wasn't that Death had completely changed but that Gabriel had never expected Death to change even slightly.
"I'm sorry," Gabriel apologized. "I should do better to remember that no being is perfect."
Death asked a blunt question, "Are you afraid of me, Gabriel?"
"Yes," Gabriel didn't hesitate. "But not in the same way Saliel is; I don't think of you as a weapon given sentience, or a beast seeking higher purpose, but as a being who has more strength than wisdom."
Death wondered, "What about your father?"
Gabriel's eyes narrowed with conviction. "Every one of my siblings respects our Father for his strength," he looked down at the table, "but I would assume there isn't a single one among them that hasn't at one point feared him. Strength creates fear through simply existing," he looked into Death's eyes. "I hope someday you can command the same respect that my Father does."
"Why?"
"Because," Gabriel shook his head, "otherwise, you're just another monster waiting to happen."
- Lucifer's Side (Past) -
After returning to Heaven, [Creator] immediately demanded a training session with the archangels. Lucifer watched in frustration as [Creator] repeatedly, brutally, defeated Michael. [Creator] was reattaching Michael's arm while berating him.
"Strike properly! Stop holding back, I don't tolerate it with your siblings, I CERTAINLY do not tolerate it with me!"
Michael mumbled, "Of course, Father."
[Creator] backhanded Michael. "OF COURSE WHAT?!"
Blood started to drip from Lucifer's mouth as he clenched his jaw. Michael repeated [Creator's] order and stood back up. The next match between Michael and [Creator] was too much for Lucifer to watch quietly. [Creator] proceeded to drag his and Michael's match out. Some of the angels thought that Michael was simply doing better, but the archangels knew better.
[Creator] pulled his sword out of Michael's chest and pointed at Lucifer. "LUCIFER, NEXT!" he placed his hand on Michael's shoulder. "Do better next time."
As Michael joined the other archangels, he whispered to Lucifer, "Be careful Brother."
Lucifer, hearing his brother's weary voice, felt his anger snap. What would happen next would later be redacted from Heaven's history. The archangels who witnessed the match would later tell Gabriel what happened.
"A relentless charge, swift, and almost...suicidal."
"The sound of their blades clashing was nearly constant. I'm surprised Lucifer didn't break the sword."
"The two of them were in ribbons by the end."
"Michael won't admit it, but he was rooting for Lucifer."
Lucifer stabbed his sword into the ground and offered his blood-soaked father a hand up. As he lifted [Creator] up, he whispered.
"Your anger made you sloppy."
[Creator] placed his hand on Lucifer's shoulder and started healing them both. "Michael is better than you, which is why he has no excuse for losing every match."
Lucifer took in just how much damage he and his father had sustained. "He hates fighting you when you're like this."
[Creator] tightened his grip on Lucifer's shoulder. "Like what?"
Under normal circumstances, the archangels would have run over and congratulated Lucifer, but given the looks on Lucifer's and [Creator's] faces, mixed with the clear anger that [Creator] had shown previously, the group was hesitant. [Creator] looked over at the worried faces of his children and sighed.
"I'M SORRY!" [Creator] loosened his grip on Lucifer's shoulder. "I shouldn't take my anger out on all of you, no matter what the situation. I think that fight with the [Hunter] might have shaken me more than I realized!" he turned to Lucifer and smiled. "Congratulations on your first victory against me!"
Lucifer felt an unease fill his body as he looked into his father's eyes. Not a word of what was said, nor the wide smile, was fake. Lucifer understood liars and manipulators, but he could never quite grasp his father's personality.
- Lucifer's side (Present) -
As Lucifer's group traveled through the last part of Heliopolis, Lucifer asked Fensyr a question.
"What's it like raising so many children?"
Fensyr exhaled, "Fuckin' difficult. I think being leader of the territory makes things easier since most of 'em won't question my authority. Why d'you ask?"
Lucifer sighed, "Just thinking about things."
Fensyr scratched his face. He wanted to ask Lucifer some personal questions but fought the urge.