Immediately after Elros saw Sona step through her magic circle, he received a message - but not on his phone or his ring or even via carrier pigeon. He heard a voice inside his head.

"J'onn! Good to hear your voice," Elros thought.

"h.e.l.lo, Elros - and likewise. You've been wanting to speak with me regarding an important matter. I am free now if you wish to confer," J'onn said.

"Awesome. I'll be right over, then. I'm in New York City right now. Are you in Middletown?" Elros said.

"Indeed I am. I await your arrival. Farewell," J'onn answered before hanging up. Elros quickly pulled his phone and called Rias.

"Hey. What's up? How was your date?" she asked, yawning on the other end.

"Amazing. I'm sure Sona will tell you all about it soon enough. I just wanted to let you know that I'm going to be back a bit later. I need to meet up with a friend of mine," Elros said.

"Another girl?" Rias asked.

"Nope. Guy. Don't worry, I'll even take a couple of pictures of us every few seconds as proof," Elros joked.

"Ha ha, very funny. But alright. I'll see you soon, then," Rias said.

"Alright. Love you," Elros said.

"Mmm, I love you too," Rias said, smiling on the other end of the line.

'Alright. J'onn. I'll see Diana later this week. Hopefully, Barry gives his reply soon. Also need to talk to Arthur. Or maybe let Clark try him and then I'll follow up,' Elros thought as he continued to look at the skyline. His eyes turned to the sky soon after, frowning as he saw the ill.u.s.trious stars drowned out by the ritz of New York City. With a sigh, he took the sky and shot off.

-o-

"Johnny boy!" Elros said with a wide smile as he embraced his friend with a tight hug. The man on the receiving end - John Jones a.k.a J'onn J'onzz - let out a sigh as he let his arms remain limp at his sides. Whenever Elros came across him in such a manner, he always embraced him as opposed to the handshake others gave. While he didn't mind it, he didn't quite understand the reasoning behind it either.

"Greetings, Elros. How are you this evening?" J'onn asked in a deep voice as he offered Elros a seat before taking his own. They were in a small office that was registered to John Jones, a detective in a small and out of the way city in the middle America called Middletown. J'onn had dark tan skin and was quite tall - clocking in at a solid 6'6. He was wearing a dark brown suit with a green unders.h.i.+rt and red vest - jarring to many, but it suited him. He wore a black bowler hat which he took off and put to the side, showing his buzz cut. He regarded Elros with wise eyes, neither smiling nor frowning as he usually did. Elros, he noted, was smiling brightly - something that always struck him as odd, especially knowing what he knew about the young Lantern.

"Well, thank you for asking. Yourself?" Elros asked.

"Well as well," J'onn said.

"How've you been? Adjusting well? It's been a few months since we last saw each other," Elros said.

"Indeed. I thank you for keeping in touch with me. I am adjusting well to life here. I am able to help the people as they need it. It is… new, but it keeps me occupied," J'onn said in his usual monotone voice - although it was a voice that, at least to Elros, sounded much older than J'onn appeared to be.

"That's good to hear. Have you been in touch with Bats or C.K. lately?" Elros asked.

"I have not. They have both been busy, I believe. However, I have been able to sense some of what they are thinking and feeling. I feel the same from you. You all believe that a time that your ident.i.ties will be revealed is approaching - fast," J'onn said, getting to the point. Elros liked that about J'onn - he, much like Bruce, always cut straight to the point. They were never ones to laden sweet and tender words onto others, preferring to cut to the marrow. Barry and Clark were much more charming and tactful, however - making them easier to get along with, although Elros found that he got along well with all of them. They all had their quirks that he could easily attune to.

"I think that's more of a concern for them, but it's understandable. They still want to be able to live their lives. But with how things are going… I'm just not sure that will be possible. The end of an age is coming," Elros said.

"Indeed. It appears you have some information for me. Shall I?" J'onn asked, reaching across the table with a hand. Elros nodded and leaned forward as well. He felt J'onn put a hand on his head and he suddenly saw the brightest flash of white light his eyes beheld. They were wide open but he could see nothing; not J'onn, not the desk in front of him or the watchful night through the window behind J'onn; he couldn't see anything, hear anything, or think anything - everything was a complete white. Elros didn't know how much time pa.s.sed before his vision began to come back to him. He blinked a few times and let his eyes adjust to the lighting of the room before he looked at J'onn who was still impa.s.sive.

"Intriguing. You are a… Devil?" he asked.

"I am. What do you think?" Elros asked.

"I am intrigued by the changes, especially the new powers you have attained. Blue wings, increased stamina, durability, and defense, new powers, and a significantly longer lifespan - likely ranging into the thousands of years a.s.suming you don't strain yourself as you are typically wont to do. Your reasoning for making the change is also… interesting. How is this new life?" J'onn asked.

"I'm enjoying it so far. A few hiccups with High-Cla.s.s Devils, but mostly it's been a blast. It's been a light time for my duties as a Lantern. Not sure how long that'll last, but I intend to make the most of it," Elros said.

"I see. And regarding what you are planning… Yes. I shall join your endeavor," J'onn said, nodding solemnly. Elros smiled; he knew that out of everyone they planned to recruit, J'onn would be the most receiving of the idea. His planet had once been a peak of civilization, especially in the region of the Milky Way they inhabited - but it was rendered a wasteland with only one - one - survivor. J'onn, along with only one other man on Earth, knew what it was like to be the last of your kind. He would ensure that Earth, his adopted home, would not fall prey to the same fate.

"I'm happy to hear that, J.J. I'm sure Bats will be as well. I'll drop by Gotham to let him know," Elros said.

"Very well. I shall visit him another day. I must… leave now," J'onn said, getting up as they had concluded business. He wasn't one more many words.

"In a hurry?" Elros asked.

"I have a meeting," J'onn said.

"A meeting, you say? With a girl, perhaps? In a restaurant of sorts?" Elros asked with a smile.

"Indeed. This is how humans interact with each other, is it not?" J'onn asked with a furrowed brow.

"It is. One of the sure-fire ways to get it on," Elros said with a chuckle.

"'Get it on?' Forgive me, Elros. I am still uncertain about your sense of humor and idioms, and I do not wish to intrude on your mind for everything. I understand humans aren't fond of that," J'onn said.

"It means to mate. s.e.x, J'onn! s.e.x!" Elros said.

"I see. I do not antic.i.p.ate that happening tonight. I am simply trying to understand your culture as best I can," J'onn said.

"If you say so. I'll see you around, buddy," Elros said, shaking J'onn's hand.

"Indeed. If I might request, could you exit via your new method of transportation? I would like to understand the mechanics of your new powers," J'onn said.

"Sure. Don't see a problem with that," Elros shrugged. He opened a magic circle and stepped through to Gotham. As he left, J'onn committed it to memory and nodded, satisfied with the demonstration and sent Elros a telepathic thank you.

-o-

As soon as Elros stepped through, his heart slightly fell. He opened the portal right in front of Wayne Manor where he usually came out. However, as he well knew by this point, he had an uncanny ability to run into people as soon as he stepped out - usually after they had just had a long winded and exasperating conversation with Bruce. This time was no different. Stepping through, he saw the shocked look on the face of the beautiful Barbara Gordon, her orange hair fluttering in the wind.

"Oh. Barbara. Hi," Elros said, gulping as he paused.

"E-Elros? W-what… how… wait. What the h.e.l.l?!" she exclaimed as she saw the magic circle disappear.

"That… yeah, I can see why that'd be your reaction. Umm… suffice it to say a few things have changed," Elros said with a chuckle.

"WHAT THE h.e.l.l?!" she asked, a bit louder.

"Keep it down, Barb!" Elros said.

"DON'T CALL ME THAT!" she said angrily. She still hadn't forgiven him for leaving her out of the discussion he was having with Bruce. It angered her that Elros - a couple of years her junior - would leave her out of what they were planning.

"Sorry," Elros sighed. He could understand where Barbara was coming from, but he would suffer her anger if it meant she would stay safe. She had only recently taken on her persona and didn't have the requisite experience to take on any significant threats. She obviously didn't see it that way.

"That's not good enough," she said sharply.

"Barbara I… don't want you to get hurt," Elros said.

"You get hurt all the time! BUT STOP! You're changing the topic! What the h.e.l.l was that you just did?! What was the blue circle?" she asked.

"Like I said, there's been a few changes. I… uhh… well, I'm not quite sure how to tell you without coming off as insane," Elros said with a meek chuckle.

"Just come out and say it," she told him.

"Ok… well, it goes like this…," Elros said, delving into the CliffNotes of how he became a Devil.

-o-

"Are you f.u.c.king serious?" Barbara asked, mouth hanging open.

"Yup," Elros said.

"Seriously?" she asked.

"Yeah," Elros replied.

"You're… I'm sorry. You're a Devil?" she asked.

"I am," Elros said. Barbara was about to speak again before closing her mouth, looking down at his feet before looking back at his eyes. She could tell that he was the same Elros she had known for years; the warm, brown eyes were an easy indicator of such. He still spoke to her the same way and treated her the same. Whatever he was now didn't seem to impact him at all personality wise.

"I see," Barbara finally said.

"What do you think?" Elros asked nervously. He would be the first to admit that he had a lot of friends; he made some pretty much everywhere he went. There were only a few people he truly cared about, however - Barbara being one of them. They had spent a considerable amount of time together, much to the initial chagrin of her father, James Gordon (although the man eventually warmed up to Elros, as many did). Elros truly cared about what she thought - thinking now that it was a mistake to wait so long to inform her.

"Why did you not tell me sooner?" she asked, her voice a bit weaker.

"I… don't know. I haven't told many people yet. Bruce. Constantine. Flash. J'onn just before I came here. That's it," Elros said.

"And when did you tell Bruce?" she asked.

"A… a few weeks ago," Elros said.

"I see…," Barbara said.

"I'm sorry for waiting so long. I've been caught up with so many other things that I just… I'm sorry, Barbara," Elros said. She offered no reply but sighed before nodding, rubbing her brow.

"And you're dating this… Rias Gremory? And Akeno Himejima… of course you are. Why am I not surprised," she said with a sigh. She quickly committed the names to memory, as well as the other names Elros told her.

"Well, you know me," Elros said with a light chuckle.

"I thought I did," she said, her voice cutting. Elros felt as heart drop as her voice reached him; he wouldn't be able to easily charm his way out of this. He sighed and nodded.

"Well… I guess I'll see you later Barbara," Elros said, walking past her. As he was about to, she put a hand on his chest to stop him. Looking sideways, she a.n.a.lyzed his eyes.

"Will you talk to Bruce? About letting me join?" she asked.

"Barbara… I know you're intelligent. But what we're doing… I'm sorry, but no. I know you're going to be angry with me. You might even loathe me. But I'd rather you hate me and live than anything… bad happen to you. You know how important you are to me," Elros said in a hard voice. She could tell that was his final answer. She gave a sigh before nodding and continuing on her way, Elros's new friends going through her mind as she went.

'Rias Gremory, Akeno Himejima, Issei Hyoudou, Kiba Yuuto, Xenovia Quarta, Asia Argento, Koneko Toujou, and Gasper Vladi. Hmm… Who are you people?' she thought as she began forming a plan in her head. As angry as she was with Elros, she could never hate him. Quite the opposite - she cared very deeply where he was concerned. Whoever his friends were would now have to pa.s.s her standards.

-o-

"Ah, Elros. Good evening," Alfred greeted him.

"Hey, Alfred. How are you?" Elros asked cheerfully.

"Well, thank you. Here to see Master Bruce?" Alfred asked.

"Yup. Good news to deliver," Elros said, flas.h.i.+ng the butler a smile before he headed to the recess of the manor.

-o-

"Hey, Bats," Elros greeted the man who let out a sigh.

"I'd prefer it if you simply called me Bruce," Bruce said, knowing the futility of his request.

"No can do, black and yellow," Elros said with a chuckle as he took a seat.

"What can I do for you, Elros?" Bruce asked, turning to him.

"I just went to go see J'onn. He's in," Elros said. Bruce showed absolutely no reaction beyond a nod.

"I see. That's good to hear. So we're at four now," Bruce said.

"Yup. I'm hoping Barry will give us an answer soon, but perhaps Clark might want to follow up with him. I'm going to go ask Diana sometime soon, and I think Clark should approach Arthur. I'll follow up," Elros said.

"Let him know when you get a chance," Bruce said.

"Satellites pick anything up recently?" Elros asked.

"Not recently, no. I've prepared a few more that I'd like you and Clark to help deploy later this week, however," Bruce said.

"Sounds good. Just give me a call and I'll be right over. What about a base of operations?" Elros asked.

"That's something that will take a bit longer, but with you, Clark, J'onn, Barry, and Diana - we should be able to get it a.s.sembled fairly quickly before deploying it. Do you want to see the plans?" Bruce asked.

"You read my mind. Fire it up," Elros said with a grin as he got up and stood behind Bruce. His face erupted into the largest grin he could produce as he saw it in front of him.

"Bats, I could kiss you right now," Elros said excitedly.

"Please refrain from doing so," Bruce sighed.

"How much is it going to cost, though?" Elros asked.

"Enough," Bruce said.

"Let me know if there's any particular material you need and I'll go search for it. It's a good plan but we need the absolute best. Even if it's just a one or two percent increase in durability or power or whatever. Anything, Bruce. Anything," Elros said.

"I agree. Will that be all for now?" Bruce asked.

"Any leads on this clown you've been chasing around?" Elros asked.

"Not much beyond his call name," Bruce said.

"He's been in the news in j.a.pan as well. You need to find him, Bruce. I'm not sure how Gotham is reacting to him, but it can't be good," Elros said.

"I'm aware," Bruce nodded.

"Alright. Keep me posted. Later Bats," Elros said before he opened up a magic circle and went back to the Gremory's home.

As Elros left, Bruce let out a sigh as turned back to the monitors, pulling up a blown up picture of a man with a purple suit, green hair, crazed eyes, and an insane, wide, toothy smile - mocking him.

"Who are you?" Bruce mused to himself as he continued to look at the picture.

-o-

As Elros appeared back at the Gremory Household, he noted that it was extremely quiet. Everyone was likely already asleep; it was already dark outside. He began to go up the stairs and towards his room but as he rounded the corner, he ran into a Marion and Bürent.

"Hey Marion, Bürent. What's up?" Elros asked, surprised to see them walking around.

"Oh, hey! How was your date?" they asked as they each gave him a hug.

"Pretty fun actually. Got my a.s.s kicked in chess by Sona," Elros said with a chuckle, eliciting a giggle from the two.

"We were just going down to get a bit of a snack. I've been craving something sweet," Bürent said.

"Would you like to join us?" Marion asked.

"Oh yes," Elros said, grinning and putting his arms around their shoulders. They began the walk to the kitchen, with Marion and Bürent serving as guides.

"I think I've spent more time here than you two yet you know where everything is. I still keep getting lost," Elros groaned.

"Can't your ring keep a map or something?" Marion asked.

"It can but that's boring!" Elros complained.

"Then you've no one to blame but yourself," Bürent said with a smirk, giggling as she saw his deadpan expression.

"Whatever. On the bright side, if I ever get lost, I know I can count on you two to help me find my way," Elros said cheerfully. Bürent and Marion smiled at each other and leaned in a bit closer to Elros, each of them putting an arm around his waist and resting their head on his shoulders.

As they reached the kitchen, Bürent and Marion quickly prepared some chocolate chip cookies and hot chocolate for the three of them before sitting on some stools across the island counter.

"Can I ask you two a personal question?" Elros asked as he let the elixir fill him up.

"What's up?" Marion asked, taking a bite of the gooey cookie, trailing some chocolate from her lips that she licked up, slightly lascivious. Elros smirked inwards but moved on to his question; if he tried anything without her permission, Rias would have his life.

"You two seem to be around my age. I was just wondering what your lives were like before you became Devils. Or were you always reincarnated Devils?" Elros asked. Marion and Bürent looked at each other before thinking of the answer. Elros noted the sad expression the played across their face, something that made his heart drop - what was he about to hear?

"Well, I was born in Germany, but my parents are both Devils. They live in the Underworld now, in the Phoenix territory," Bürent said quietly.

"And I was born in France, but we eventually moved to Frankfurt which is where Bürent lived. Both of our parents became friends when we were young, although mine were human. Umm… when I was eight, though, we were in an accident. They… didn't make it," Marion said uncomfortably as she looked at her plate.

"Oh… I'm so sorry for bringing this up, Marion. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to," Elros said.

"No, it's… fine. I'm sorry it's just… I don't…," Marion said tears forming in her eyes as she thought about them. She quickly wiped them away before giving Elros a strained smile.

"Bürents parents were really nice, though. They took me in and treated me like their own daughter, which is why we're like sisters. Eventually, I learned that they were Devils. But I was so young when I did, that it didn't really matter to me - I'm not even sure it registered, honestly. I just knew they were good people," Marion said as she gave Bürent a hug.

"We moved to the Underworld soon after. I think we were around… 14? 14 or so when Riser recruited us as p.a.w.ns into his peerage. When we first met him… It was like a dream come true, Elros. My parents are Low-Cla.s.s Devils, so opportunity wasn't really abound, although they made a decent living. To be recruited into a High or Ultimate-Cla.s.s Devil's peerage was considered a great honor. We were happy when he chose us out of everyone. He was handsome and charming; powerful and wealthy. And it was good for the first few months, for both of us. After that, he started showing his true colors. I suppose we should've figured that from the beginning. When he first approached us, he looked down at us from this carriage that one of his butlers was driving. Egotistical and c.o.c.ksure even then," Bürent said, her eyes misting over as she put her cookie down and held her head in her hands. Elros quickly went over to their side and put a hand on their backs, gently rubbing.

"He barely had to ask. Bürent and I were happy to jump at the chance, especially if it meant we could help our parents out. But, umm… after the first few months, he revoked our ability to leave the premises without his permission. We asked him constantly, but he refused to budge unless we agreed to… well… you know…," Marion said uneasily. Elros's eyes narrowed as he nodded; he had an idea of what it was that Riser wanted.

"We refused. He didn't attack us or **** us, but he made our lives h.e.l.l. Kept us working as much as he could. Ruval stepped in a few times, but he mostly let it go on - either unaware or he just didn't care. Same thing with Ravel," Marion said.

"Have you gone to see your parents since I won my match?" Elros asked.

"I… No… No, we haven't," Bürent said, gulping.

"Don't you want to?" Elros asked.

"I… Oh no. I never gave it… I… didn't think about it. We were under his thumb for so long that… I… forgot about them," Bürent said. Elros saw the tears she had been keeping in finally break loose, flowing down her cheeks. He put an arm around them and brought them in. Marion and Bürent buried their head in Elros's side, crying. Elros wasn't a man of regret - usually, whenever he made a choice, he accepted it and the consequences. He felt a surge of regret right now, however - regret that he let Riser off with a warning.

'I should've slaughtered him,' Elros thought coldly. However, as he looked down, he warmed up; that wasn't what Marion and Bürent needed to hear right now.

"Do you guys want to go right now?" he suddenly asked them.

"What?" Marion and Bürent asked in surprise, looking up at him.

"Do you want to visit your parents? I'll accompany you to make sure everything copacetic," Elros said.

"Are you serious?" Bürent asked hoa.r.s.ely.

"Yeah. You haven't seen them in years. They deserve to see how beautiful and happy their daughters are now," Elros said with a smile as he cupped their cheeks. Bürent quickly leaped up and hugged Elros, Marion following soon after. Elros smiled and returned the hug.

"Go get changed and we'll head on out. I'll let Rias know really quickly," Elros said. Marion and Bürent nodded and quickly rushed to their rooms, Elros going to his.

-o-

"Hey," Elros said quietly, kissing Rias atop her head.

"Mmm, hi. What's up?" she asked as let out a yawn and gently fluttered her eyes open, smiling at Elros.

"I wanted to let you know that I'm about to head out. I was talking to Marion and Bürent about their parents. They haven't seen them in a while, Rias. I just… want to put their minds at ease," Elros said.

"Really?" Rias asked, sitting up.

"Yeah," Elros said.

"It's fine with me. Where do they live?" Rias asked.

"In the Phoenix Territory," Elros said.

"Alright. Well, it shouldn't be a problem. Only a few of the territories restrict movement amongst Devils, but the Phoenix Territory is part of the Open Movement Program. Just make sure you don't cause too much of a ruckus," Rias said.

"That won't be a problem. But I wanted to ask you… would it be difficult to move them here or something?" Elros asked.

"Into our territory?" Rias asked.

"Yeah," Elros nodded.

"I… dunno. I could ask my dad about it," Rias said. Elros nodded. He felt her take his head into her hands before she leaned in and kissed him. Elros returned the kiss before taking one of her hands in his and kissing it.

"So Marion and Bürent? They're both really attractive," Rias said.

"Literally, all Devil girls are," Elros chuckled.

"Yeah, but they're special. I think they like you, too," Rias giggled.

"How do you feel about that?" Elros asked. Rias smiled; whenever a girl showed interest in Elros, the first thing he did was ask how it made Rias feel. It was one of the reasons that she was so secure in letting him have a harem; because he would always consider her feelings on the matter first.

"I'm fine with it. If you want to progress your relations.h.i.+p with them, it's fine. But would you mind taking it slow?" she asked.

"If that is what you wish," Elros asked as he kissed her again, laying her back down on the bed. She giggled as she felt his hand trail down her stomach and quickly brought it up.

"Down, boy. Not after your date with Sona," Rias said.

"Let me know what you think of what I did for her after she inevitably fills you in on all the details," Elros said with a chuckle before giving her one more kiss and exiting.

-o-

"Elros…," Bürent said as she put on a jacket.

"What's up?" Elros asked.

"What if… Riser… you know…," Bürent asked, hesitating a bit.

"If he tries anything, just let me take care of it. At this point, I'm almost hoping he will. After hearing about what he's done to you guys, I regret not being a bit more… violent in how I treated him," Elros said icily. Bürent and Marion felt a s.h.i.+ver go down their spines as he said that. They were one of the firsts to be eliminated, along with Mira and Shuriya. They saw the power that Elros released when it was just him against Riser and Ravel. It was something that stuck with them - that Elros could inspire dread when he wanted to.

"Shall we?" Marion finally asked.

"Let's. Lead the way," Elros said. Marion nodded and opened up a magic circle. They all stepped through.

-o-

"Oh, this is nice," Elros said as he looked at the building in front of them. It was a one story house with a quaint little garden, a white picket fence, and a simple wooden door. He saw no lights on - likely because the parents were asleep. Marion and Bürent looked at each other with a wide smile; they hadn't seen their parents in years. Opening the fence, they walked over to the door and knocked. After a minute or so, they heard some shuffling behind the door.

"Mmm.. yes, can I help you?" a woman asked as she opened the door. Elros noted that she looked a lot like Bürent. She was wearing a lavender robe which meshed well with her lavender hair. She had beautiful features, much like her daughters, as well as gray eyes. As she saw the two girls, her eyes widened, misting over before tears began to shed.

"No… no, no… am I seeing things? Sweetheart?!" she asked, quickly taking the two girls cheeks in her hands.

"Hey, mom," Bürent said tearfully.

"Mother," Marion said, also crying tears of joy. She let out a shriek before she quickly brought the girls in for a hug. Elros smiled as she watched the scene, letting it play out. As he did so, he let out a quiet sigh.

'So this is how parents act after seeing their kid again?' he thought sadly. He quickly perked up; this was Marion and Bürents night.

"My beautiful girls," their mother cried, still holding on to them, her sobs audible.

"Honey? What's going on? Why are you crying?" came a man's voice. He, like his wife, wore a lavender robe. His hair was short and black, his eyes gray. As he saw the new tuft of blonde and lavender hair, an incredulous expression was etched on his face. He quickly rushed over, not believing his eyes just yet.

"Hi daddy," Bürent said as she hugged the man.

"Bürent," the man said breathlessly, slowing bringing his hands up and holding his daughters close. That was the impetus that broke the dam in his eyes. The tears flowed like Niagra Falls as he tightly hugged her, bringing Marion in as well. They all seemed to ignore Elros, which suited him just well.

"Bürent! Marion! You're here! My baby girls," the man said through his tears. It went on for minutes before Marion and Bürent finally let go and took a step back, wiping away tears of joy, smiling brightly before they began to introduce Elros.

"Mom, dad - this is Elros. He's… our friend and master," Bürent said as she took his arm in hers. Marion took the other and Elros smiled at the adult Devils, bowing to them.

"My word… Elros Eärendil, no?" the man asked in shock.

"Yes, sir. It's an honor to meet you," he said, shaking the man's hand.

"You're our daughters new master?" the woman asked, extending her hand as well. Elros kissed it before taking a step back.

"I don't consider myself as such, although I guess they still do. I like to think of myself as their friend," Elros said.

"Please, don't wait out there! Come in, come in!" the man said, ushering them in.

"Thank you, sir," Elros said, accepting the invitation. The three walked in and were led to a quaint family room. Elros noted that several pictures of Bürent and Marion as children were on the walls. Bürent and Marion sat Elros down before they went into the kitchen with their mother to prepare something to eat and drink.

"I… Mr. Eärendil…," the man began before Elros cut him off.

"Please sir, just call me Elros," Elros said.

"Elros… this… I… don't know what to say," the man said, trying to gather his thoughts which were in a whirlwind. His daughters - who he had not seen for years - had just appeared on his doorstep.

"Nothing to say, sir. I quite understand," Elros said, leaning back.

"It's… been years since I saw them. Lord Riser wouldn't… permit them. He wouldn't permit us to see them. Even letters we sent were… sent back to us," the man said, bringing a hand to his eyes. Elros saw his lip tremble. He got up and rested a hand on the man's shoulder, nodding in understanding.

"We gave up hope," the man said, his voice shuddering violently.

"I understand. I'm sorry for what you had to go through," Elros said quietly.

"Are they safe? With you, I mean?" the man asked. Every father worried for their daughter, more so than they likely would for a son.

"Yes, sir. They're attending school with me on Earth, in j.a.pan," Elros said.

"School…school. Good. That's good. Thank you," the man said. Elros nodded before taking his seat. As he did so, their father looked at him intensely, likely trying to figure him out. Elros simply smiled as he waited for him to talk again. Before he could, Bürent, Marion, and their mother reentered.

"Thank you so much, Elros," their mother said as she handed him some tiramisu cake and a cup of hot tea.

"I should be thanking you, Mrs. Müller. You and Mr. Müller have raised two exceptional daughters. I'm lucky to know them," Elros said with a smile as took a bite of tiramisu. He felt tears well up in his eyes as he did; this was the best d.a.m.n cake he ever tried. He looked down at it before looking up at them. He noted the looks of worry in the parents.

"Do you not like tiramisu?" their mother asked.

"Quite the opposite, my lady. I love it. But this… this is the best tiramisu I've ever had. Oh good G.o.d in Heaven, that's amazing," Elros said quietly, closing his eyes and took another bite and let the taste soak in, the pain almost nonexistent as it was overwhelmed by the sweet, sweet flavor.

"Mrs. Müller, I must ask - Marion and Bürents cooking… were you the one who taught them?" Elros asked.

"I was," she said with a smile as she caressed her daughter's cheek.

"Thank you, Mrs. Müller. Thank you. Oh G.o.d, thank you. Every time I taste their food, I feel like I'm in Heaven. Now I know why," Elros said, lavis.h.i.+ng his sincere thanks on her. She smiled at the reaction while Marion and Bürent giggled, their father joining in with a happy laugh.

"My daughters tell me that you've been a very kind and gracious host to them, Elros. My husband and I thank you. It's been a long while since we've been able to see them," Mrs. Müller said.

"Forgive me for not bringing them by sooner, Mr. and Mrs. Müller," Elros said, bowing his head to them.

"Please, don't worry about that! They're safe they're here now… that's what matters," she said, trying to brush his worry off.

"I don't wish to sound rude, but I must know… is there a… reason you brought them here?" Mr. Müller asked.

"I simply thought that they should visit. They told me that Riser wouldn't let them see you two. They're no longer under his control, however. I beat him in a duel in which he staked the owners.h.i.+p of his peerage. Marion and Bürent made the decision to join me. Something that I've been exceedingly happy about," Elros said, flas.h.i.+ng them a grin.

"Do you have your own peerage?" the man asked.

"I don't, sir. I'm a Low-Cla.s.s Devil," Elros said. They looked on in surprise before turning to Marion and Bürent, both of whom smiled and nodded.

"That's quite impressive, Elros. I don't think any Low-Cla.s.s Devil is a ranked Duelist," the father said.

"We don't attend those kinds of events, I'm afraid," the mother told him.

"I wish I didn't have to either, but extenuating circ.u.mstances forced my hand. I'm happy I beat Riser, though. The girls seem much happier now," Elros said as he smiled warmly at them.

"Yes, I can see that. I don't think I've ever seen them so happy. Although living with a handsome young man must have its perks," their mother said with a giggle. Marion and Bürent both turned a bright red as they quickly took her out of the room.

"MOTHER!" Bürent squealed in embarra.s.sment, eliciting a chuckle from her father and Elros.

"I'm happy to see that Marion and Bürent are so happy," Elros said with a smile.

"As am I. Thank you, Elros. I don't know how to repay you. You've… given us our daughters back," the man said, letting out another happy laugh as the realization finally hit him.

"No repayment necessary, sir. I'm happy to do it," Elros said.

"Will you allow them to visit us?" he asked.

"Whenever they wish to. And the same goes for you should you like to visit them in j.a.pan. We've certainly got the room," Elros said with a grin.

"I'll just be a moment," the man said as he got up to see his family. Elros nodded and leaned back, smiling at the cheerful laughs he heard.

'Good. They seem… happy,' he thought. He let out a deep sigh as he continued with his cake, lost in thought.

-o-

"Hey, ready to head back?" Bürent asked as they came in the room. Elros saw that the entire family's faces were tearstained - but with joy and happiness etched deep in their faces.

"Sure. But are you two sure you don't want to stay a bit longer? It's fine with me," Elros said.

"We're sure. We can come back anytime we want, though, yeah?" Marion asked nervously. Elros was still their master, regardless of how much he insisted he wasn't.

"Absolutely," Elros said.

"Thank you again, Elros," Ms. Müller said.

"Not at all, Ms. Müller. I look forward to seeing you and your cooking again soon. And should you ever require anything, you have but to ask," Elros said with a grin as he kissed her hand once more and shook their fathers. They opened up a magical circle and stepped through to the Gremory mansion.

-o-

As soon as they reentered the warm hearth, Elros found himself being hugged tightly by the two maids. He smiled and returned their hug, drawing them both in deep and letting them draw strength from him. He heard their sniffles and felt their tears come through again, although was pleased to discern that these were tears of joy.

"Thank you," they cried.

"Not at all. I'm happy that you two are happy," Elros whispered, kissing them atop their heads. As they felt it, both turned a crimson red - they weren't used to such tender actions from anyone, least of all from Riser.

"We don't know how to repay you," Bürent said, finally looking up after a minute. She saw the radiant smile that Elros always had - something that put her at an ease she couldn't describe. It was as though the worries of the world just melted away when she was with him, knowing that he would help protect her and keep her safe. Marion felt the same as she looked up as well; here was a man that put them first, that cared about what they wanted and how they felt.

"You guys are already spoiling me. Besides, you deserve to be happy. You two had a difficult time with Riser. I want you to have a much happier time with me," Elros said.

Without thinking, Marion suddenly pressed her lips against his. Elros was surprised at the gesture but rolled with it. Tightening his grip around her waist, he pulled her in a bit closer and eased his tongue into her mouth. He felt her body s.h.i.+ver in pleasure at the touch as he ramped up the pa.s.sion. Marion obviously had some skills as well, he thought; she quickly matched his tongue with hers, flicking across it before taking her own pa.s.sage into his mouth, trying to taste more and more. It was a long while before they finally broke apart. Bürent looked on in surprise at the moment that they just had; it soon hit Marion.

"Oh… oh no! I'm so sorry!" she said, horrified that she would do such a thing. It was a betrayal of his and Elros and Rias's trust she felt. Her heart sank as she thought of what Rias would do to her if she found out: Rias was much stronger than she, and probably a bit more temperamental than Elros if she had to guess. She felt Elros bring a hand to her cheek and was surprised as she saw him shake his head.

"It's fine. I talked to Rias before leaving. She's… cool with it. So long as we don't… you know," Elros said, clicking his tongue suggestively. Marion blushed, a huge weight off her shoulders. She leaned back up and gave him another kiss before quickly letting go and running off to her room, smiling wide, leaving Bürent alone with Elros. As he turned to her, Bürent hugged him once more.

"Thank you," she said.

"Not at all. I'm here for you, alright? Whatever you need," Elros said as he held her tightly.

"I know. It makes me - all of us - really happy to hear you say that," Bürent said as she leaned back a bit. She brought her hands up to his face, gently taking it. Biting her lip, she thought of what she wanted to do next. Elros was heavy on her mind often. He was a loving man, she could tell - without hesitation, he offered to take them home to visit their parents. While she wasn't sure where the relations.h.i.+p would go, she nonetheless wanted to explore it. As Marion did, she leaned up and kissed him. Elros let her do so, resting his hands on her lower back as he leaned into the kiss with considerable pa.s.sion. He smirked inwards as he heard her moan in pleasure, her arms going around his neck and pulling him in deeper. Bürent felt his tongue inside her mouth, a sensation that made her tingle as it began to explore. It was a good minute before they separated. She licked her lips, taking in the remnants of his taste before giving him a bright smile.

"I'm gonna go to bed. Good night," she said, kissing him on the cheek before she ran off as well, giggling happily. Elros smiled and slowly followed.

'All in a day's work,' he thought.

-o-

"Good morning," Elros heard Rias say the following day. His eyes slowly fluttered open, smiling as he saw her beautiful and radiant face levitating just over him.

"Every morning with you is a good morning," Elros said as he brought her down for a kiss. Rias smiled and leaned into it before collapsing softly on top of him, running her hands across his sides.

"Always know what to say, don't you?" Rias asked as she began to poke him gently.

"Oh yeah. A silver tongue is the best trait anyone can have. You should know that by now," Elros said as he flipped her on her back and began going down. Rias let out a laugh before pulling him up.

"Come on, I'm hungry," Elros grumbled.

"You're gross, is what you are," Rias giggled.

"Uh huh. Says the girl whose naked whenever she's with me. At least I have some clothes on," Elros said in a mock haughty tone.

"Oh? So you want me to dress up more conservatively?" Rias asked, motioning to get up. She found herself pinned to the bed, smirking as she saw Elros hovering just inches above her.

"Don't even think about it," he said with a chuckle as he kissed her neck.

"Mmm…," Rias moaned as she let him get to work.

-o-

"So what do you have planned for Tsubaki?" Rias wondered as she led Elros through the hallway, hands held.

"She's the one I don't know as much about, beyond that she was an exorcist. I've got a few things going through my head, though. Maybe serenade her with a song or something," Elros chuckled.

"You sing?" Rias asked eyebrow raised.

"I'm a man of many talents you'll find," Elros said, slightly smug.

"Sorry. I'm still trying to picture you singing," Rias said, giggling at the thought. While she easily admitted that Elros was quite tall and handsome, she never pictured him on stage.

"Hey! You're making fun of me," he grumbled.

"Sorry, sweetheart. I'm just picturing you on stage," Rias said, pinching his cheek.

"See, this is why I'm only going to treat her to my dulcet tones," Elros said.

"I'm sure I'm not missing out on much," Rias teased.

"You're mean, Rias," Elros said, eliciting a laugh from her.

"I'm sure she'll enjoy whatever you do," Rias said, finally calming down.

"I certainly hope so. She deserves to be happy. Much like you, Akeno and Sona," Elros said. Rias smiled and disentangled her hand from his, moving to wrap an arm around his waist as she happily leaned in.

"This is nice," she said happily.

"I'm glad you think so," Elros chuckled.

"So are you ready for the Games to begin?" Rias asked.

"I think so. I've honestly no idea what to expect. I know the basics… that it's basically a team vs team version of Duels. Is there anymore to it than that?" Elros asked.

"That's about it, to be honest. However, in a Rating Game, the entire match can end if the king - me in our case - is taken out," Rias said.

"If anyone wants to get to you, they're going to have to get through me first," Elros said, stopping and turning to face her.

"Mmm, my p.a.w.n in s.h.i.+ning armor," Rias said with a smile as she leaned up to kiss him.

"d.a.m.n straight, my lady," Elros said, returning the kiss in full force. Rias giggled as she felt his hand trail down her back, giving her a squeeze as it found a comfortable spot to rest on.

"This actually leads me to another question," Elros said as they began to walk again.

"What's up?" Rias asked.

"Say I become a High or Ultimate-Cla.s.s Devil and start my own peerage. Do I leave yours or something?" Elros asked.

"Nope. You remain my p.a.w.n until you're released. In the event that I have a game, you partic.i.p.ate in it with me," Rias said.

"What if my peerage ends up going against yours?" Elros asked.

"That's the one case in which you don't have to fight with me. In that event, you stay with your own peerage," Rias said.

"Hmm… And Rating Games are ranked like Duels?" Elros asked.

"Yup," Rias said. She saw a contemplative expression on Elros's face.

"What is it?" she asked.

"It seems kind of interesting. I dunno, at first I wasn't too keen on the idea of starting my own peerage. You and your brother brought up some good points about it, though. Besides, as long as I can keep going on as a Green Lantern, it doesn't really bother me," Elros said.

"So you'll take the promotion?" Rias asked in surprise.

"We'll see, but I'm definitely considering it," Elros said.

"I want to ask… do you see a future in which you won't be a Green Lantern anymore?" Rias asked. Elros noted a hint of nervousness in her voice.

"Not yet. But I've no doubt that there will be a time when I'll stop being a Green Lantern," Elros said.

"Really?" Rias asked in surprise. She saw the sad smile on his face, making her pause. She took his face in her hands and examined it, a worried expression playing across her features.

"It's not an easy job, Rias. I started doing it when I was really young. It's had a… physical toll on me, you could say," Elros said.

"A physical toll?" Rias asked, worried.

"I take quite a few knocks and my ring can't deflect all of them. Part of the reason why I'm so achy at times. Being a Devil, though… it's certainly taken a large portion of the edge off, to be honest," Elros said.

"Really?" Rias asked in surprise.

"Yeah. I mean, it's not so bad that I can't function at 100% - I can do that now and for the foreseeable future. But… it's not exactly the most comfortable thing, you know? But like I said, being a Devil has really worked wonders overall on my body. Gave me an energy boost, you could say," Elros said. He didn't want to delve too deep into the topic for now.

"Please don't push yourself too hard," Rias said as she hugged him.

"Don't worry. I can't leave you all alone," Elros said, kissing her atop her head as they kept going, her arms wrapped tighter around his stomach.

-o-

"h.e.l.lo, Elros," Karlamine said as she soon came upon them.

"Hey, Karlamine! What's up?" Elros asked cheerfully.

"Elros… I was hoping that I could speak with you for a moment. In private," Karlamine said, blus.h.i.+ng. Rias looked at him and her before looking back at him.

"Go on. I'll wait," she said, giving him a peck on the cheek. Elros nodded at Karlamine and led her to a secluded corner, a curious expression on his face.

"What's up?" he asked.

"There's… something that I wish… to ask… or rather, request… of you…," Karlamine said, stammering as spoke. She tried to meet his eye but found herself unable to. She soon felt his hands on her shoulders, giving her a comforting smile.

"Just relax, Karlamine," Elros said, exaggerating her breathing. She followed it and soon leveled out.

"I wish… to be… with… the knight," she said, turning a bright red as she did so. Elros looked surprised by the request.

"What?" he asked. He saw her falter for a second before she leveled out again.

"I wish… to be able to leave… your home," she said.

"Oh?" Elros asked.

"Y-y-yes," Karlamine said. Elros saw the fear in her face as she made the ask; no doubt she was expecting a violent reaction. To her surprise, however, Elros gently pulled her in for a hug. Karlamine didn't know what to do with her hands, which simply flailed for a moment, before resting them on his back. She felt him ma.s.sage her back as a friend would - no sense of romance involved.

"You want to leave my place and live with Kiba is what you're asking?" Elros asked as he pulled back.

"I-I-I am," Karlamine said. Suddenly, she fell to a knee with one hand crossed over her chest.

"Forgive me. I… don't know what I'm saying," she stammered. Elros smiled as he put his hands on her shoulders, guiding her back up.

"You don't bow to me, Karlamine. Or anyone else, for that matter," Elros said.

"Sure. Of course, you can leave. I'm not going to force you to stay. Kiba's a great guy, Karlamine. I'm certain you'll be happy with him," Elros said with a grin.

"Truly?" Karlamine asked in surprise. She didn't expect it to be this easy.

"Yup," Elros said.

"I… would still like to remain in your service, however. Should you ever require it," Karlamine said.

"Of course. And my door will always be open to you. Always," Elros said. Karlamine smiled brightly as she lurched forward, hugging him.

"There, there," Elros said, gently rubbing her back again.

"Thank you," she said softly.

"Not at all," Elros said, leading her back out. She smiled at Rias before running off.

"What was that all about?" Rias asked.

"They grow up so fast. Karlamine is going to move in with Kiba," Elros said.

"Seriously?" Rias asked in shock.

"Why do you look so surprised?" Elros asked eyebrow raised.

"I… kinda always thought that Kiba was gay," Rias said, eliciting a roaring laugh from Elros. She didn't really explore the s.e.xual proclivities of her servants.

"Only when it comes to his bromance with Issei. He and Karlamine hit it off quite well. Going to have to let him know to treat her well," Elros said.

"I'm sure he will. But it's sweet to see you being so protective of the girls," Rias said as she lead him down the staircase to the foyer. As they went down, the door opened and Sona and Tsubaki walked inside. Sona had a wide smile on her lips as she saw Elros, although she didn't rush him as Rias would've done in such an instance - she preferred their time to be together and intimate, not showy in front of everyone else.

"Hey," Sona said.

"Hi there," Elros said, winking.

"Are you ready for your date with Tsubaki?" she asked, flas.h.i.+ng her friend a smile.

"Oh yes. Shall we, my lady?" Elros asked, extending an arm out to her. Tsubaki smiled and took it. Elros opened a magic portal and they stepped through.

"I thought Elros was going to take her out after we got back to Earth?" Akeno said as she joined Sona and Rias.

"Yeah, but since we're going to be staying in the Underworld for a few days, he decided to just do so now. He texted her saying that he doesn't think it's fair to make her wait," Sona said.

"Enough of that, however! Come on! You've gotta tell us EVERYTHING!" Rias said excitedly as she grabbed Sona's hand and led her up the stairs and to her room, Akeno in tow.

-o-

"You look beautiful, by the way," Elros said as they stepped out. Tsubaki wore a stunning light blue dress that cut off at her knees, her usual aquamarine rimmed gla.s.ses, and had her hair let down. Like Sona, Rias, and Akeno, she was a marvel.

"Thank you," Tsubaki said, smiling a bit wider. She smelled the air and noted that there was a hint of salt - the ocean was nearby, no doubt. She looked around and saw a few small planes - mostly Cessna 172's, the most widely built aircraft in the world. However, there was one thing that caught her eye: a sleek, silver vehicle - dew ridden as it seemed to be morning out - settled as a lone wolf on the tarmac.

"You're wondering where we are and what we're doing, I think," Elros said, leading her over to the car.

"I am," Tsubaki said as the details of the car came into view. It was a stunning piece of work. The car was - for lack of a better word - s.e.xy. It had two doors and seated two with a slightly elongated hood that curved as it reached the gla.s.s of the winds.h.i.+eld before curving back down the tail end. The tires were black with ten spokes; the front grill iconic and reminiscent of something she had seen in movies but couldn't identify.

"The 2017 Aston Martin DB11. First one to be issued, thanks to a friend of mine. A Bond Car if there ever was one," Elros said as he led her to the pa.s.senger side and opened the door.

"Thank you," Tsubaki said, smiling as she got in. As she did, Elros lowered her window, closed the door, and leaned through, smiling wide at her.

"I hope you'll forgive me if this isn't up to par for you. Going out with Sona, Rias, and Akeno I had some idea of what they liked. You and I haven't been able to spend much time together, so I thought that I would introduce you to one of my favorite drives in the world," Elros said.

"Don't worry about it. I can't wait to see what else you've planned," Tsubaki said. Elros leaned over and kissed her on the cheek before he slid across the roof - as one should with such a car - and took his own seat. The car soon erupted to life and he hit the gas hard, wheeling down the tarmac before slowing down and pulling onto the street. He kept the pace going as he wheeled throughout the town, making light talk with Tsubaki.

"This… is the first time I've actually been in a car," Tsubaki suddenly said.

"Seriously?" Elros asked, aghast.

"Yeah. We don't really need cars as Devils - magic circles are so much quicker. So none of us - literally none of us - have ever even ridden in one," she said.

"No way! You can't be serious… ever?!" Elros asked, shocked. This was something he was acutely unaware of.

"Like I said, magic circles are much quicker. I mean… we could be wherever we wanted to be right now, couldn't we?" Tsubaki asked.

"Tsubaki… the destination is the least important thing!" Elros said.

"What's most important?" she wondered.

"The journey! How we get there. The choices we make to get us there - that's what's important. Is it going to be a straight path at breakneck speed? Or a bit slow on a snaky route? Is it wide or narrow? How long or short is it? How many stops do we have along the way?" Elros said, surprisingly pa.s.sionate about the topic.

"I… never thought about that," she said quietly.

"You'll have plenty of time to think about it as we go along. This date just got even more important. I didn't think that was possible," Elros said.

"What do you mean?" Tsubaki asked.

"Well, now I need to show you that if you don't take the journey, you miss out on a lot. Fast or slow… doesn't matter. All that matters right now is that you and I are in this car and we're going to have a h.e.l.l of a lot of fun!" Elros said as he rolled down the window and made a hand construct with his ring. He connected his iPhone to the car's Bluetooth and navigated to a playlist. The next thing Tsubaki knew, 'Highway to h.e.l.l' by AC/DC was playing. She saw Elros smiling wide at her and she returned the smile, crossing her legs and smelling the salt air yet again.

"Where are we, exactly?" she asked.

"We're in California right now. We're going down the western border, on the Pacific Coast Highway, or SR 1. The highway runs along most of the Pacific Ocean. It's one of the most beautiful drives I've ever taken. Luke was the one who took me on my first actual road trip - and this is how we went, although we started south and headed north. I come here when I really need to clear my mind," Elros said, smiling pleasantly.

"It sounds like this place is special to you," she said softly.

"It is. Which is why I brought you here," Elros said as he weaved his hand through her hair. She blushed brightly at the touch and looked forward, hoping he wouldn't notice. Unfortunately for her, he did - but he also noticed the smile she wore, something that brought him a great deal of joy.

"May I?" she asked, pointing to his phone.

"Certainly," Elros said. Tsubaki began scrolling through his alb.u.ms - of which there were quite a few.

"You really like AC/DC, it seems," she said as she opened the alb.u.m 'Back in Black'.

"Oh yeah. Probably my favorite band of all time. They've got some of the best songs I've ever heard," Elros said.

"Hmm… 'h.e.l.l's Bells?'" Tsubaki mused as she began to play it. Immediately, the toll of the bell hit.

"You like?" Elros asked.

"I've never listened to them," Tsubaki said.

"WHAT?!" Elros asked, flabbergasted.

"I'm not really into rock, metal, or hip-hop. I prefer cla.s.sical and pop," she said.

"Cla.s.sical and pop?! You mean Beethoven and Bieber or something?" Elros asked.

"…Yeah," Tsubaki said.

"Well… I guess different strokes for different folks. But this… listen to the dulcet tones of Brian Johnson," Elros said as the vocals finally hit.

-o-

'I'm a rolling thunder, a pouring rain

I'm comin' on like a hurricane

My lightning's flas.h.i.+ng across the sky

You're only young but you're gonna die'

-o-

"It sounds… depressing, to be honest," Tsubaki said.

"Depressing?!" Elros asked in shock.

-o-

'I won't take no prisoners, won't spare no lives

n.o.body's putting up a fight

I got my bell, I'm gonna take you to h.e.l.l

I'm gonna get you, Satan get you'

-o-

"Come on, this is our jam, Tsubaki! We're Devils!" Elros said, trying to make her see reason. Tsubaki couldn't help but giggle at his reaction to her reaction. She simply smiled, deciding to give the music a chance.

-o-

'h.e.l.l's bells

Yeah, h.e.l.l's bells

You got me ringing h.e.l.l's bells

My temperature's high, h.e.l.l's bells'

-o-

Elros waited until the instrumental hit again before talking.

"Well?" he asked.

"It's not bad. What other good song do they have?" she asked.

"Hit next four times," Elros said with a smile. Tsubaki did as she was told and put the phone down again, waiting for the song to play.

-o-

'Flying on a free flight

Driving all night

With my machinery

'Cause I got the power

Any hour

To show the man in me

I got reputations

Blown to pieces'

-o-

"What do you think so far?" Elros asked as he finally saw the Pacific come into view in the distance, the sun s.h.i.+mmering on the water.

"So far so good," she said.

-o-

'With my artillery

I'll be guided in

We'll be ridin'

Given what you got to me

Don't you struggle

Don't you fight

Don't you worry

'Cause it's your turn tonight

Let me put my love into you, babe

Let me put my love on the line

Let me put my love into you, babe

Let me cut your cake with my knife'

-o-

Elros grinned as he saw Tsubaki turn a bright, bright red. It clicked for her what the song lyrics meant and she scrambled to turn the speakers off. Elros couldn't help but laugh, although he knew that the others would probably turn just as red if he played this song for them.

"You're the worst!" Tsubaki said, finally silencing the track.

"Come on, you can't tell me you didn't enjoy that! That song's amazing!" Elros said with a chuckle.

"Of course, you would think that. However, I don't find it amusing," she said, her voice a bit sharp. Elros sighed and nodded, although she could see he was still smiling.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. Here, this might be a bit more inline with your tastes, although it's not cla.s.sical or pop," Elros said as he put on 'The Battle of Evermore' by Led Zeppelin. 34 seconds in, the vocals began.

-o-

'Queen of Light took her bow

And then she turned to go,

The Prince of Peace embraced the gloom

And walked the night alone.

Oh, dance in the dark of night,

Sing to the morning light.

The dark Lord rides in force tonight

And time will tell us all.

Oh, throw down your plow and hoe,

Rest not to lock your homes.

Side by side we wait the might

Of the darkest of them all.'

-o-

"This one I like. What is it about, though?" Tsubaki asked as she looked ahead. Her mouth parted slightly as she beheld the beauty of the Pacific Ocean in all its glory. They were coming over a short hill before beginning a little decline, offering the perfect view: the sun was s.h.i.+mmering over rolling, glistening waves - the salt air and a cool, crisp, wind evident as it wafted through the car. She saw a flock of seagulls fly over and towards the water, likely for a meal. She leaned forward and looked in all directions but saw no end to it: the coastline extended for as far as the eye could see, likely for a few hundred miles if she had to guess; she saw steep and rolling cliffs; rocky overhangs and outcrops that provided small enclaves where one could enjoy the water in private; and small waves, devoid of any human life at the moment.

"Some stretches - like this - have almost n.o.body at them, so it's a wonderful place to come. But as for your question, this song - 'The Battle of Evermore' - was influenced by 'The Lord of the Rings.' While the exact lyrics don't make it clear, if I had to guess - the Queen of Light refers to Lady Galadriel, who left Middle Earth to go to the Undying Lands - taking her bow, as it were. The Prince of Peace… I think it refers either to Frodo or Aragorn, although I lean more towards Frodo. He's walking into Mordor, carrying the weight of the One Ring… although, he does have Sam with him. And let's be honest - Frodo would be f.u.c.ked if Sam wasn't there to help him out," Elros said. Tsubaki smiled as she listened to him go on and on about Lord of the Rings as they slowly began to pull to a stop near the beach.

'Now I know what we should get him as a gift,' Tsubaki said, remembering that they were planning to throw him a small, intimate party soon. They all had to get him gifts, of course - although almost of all of them had a difficult time in deciding what. She remembered discussing it with Rias, Akeno, and Sona. To their surprise, they learned that they didn't know much about what interested Elros. He had planned their dates perfectly - almost intrinsically knowing what they would like or not like. He knew how to speak to them and how to touch them; yet when it came to him, they had little idea of what he enjoyed to do or see or read or write or listen to.

'At least now we have a starting point,' Tsubaki thought as Elros opened the door for her, taking her hand in his.

"Thank you," she said. Elros quickly took his jacket off and put it around her, making her blush yet again. It was a cool and crisp day, a mid-level wind whipping her hair about. Elros put his arm around her and pulled her in close, offering more warmth. Tsubaki leaned in and put her arm around him, blus.h.i.+ng as she did so. While they had been close like this before, the fact that they were the only ones here made each action and decision a bit more palpable.

"I thought we could walk along the beach for a little while. It's beautiful here, no?" he asked.

"Very beautiful. I've gone to the beach before, but never one like this. Are we really the only ones here?" she asked.

"We are indeed," Elros said as he led her onto the sand, using his ring to offer them a path that led to a small rocky outcrop, raised about 25 feet into the air with a flat top. They paused about midway through, standing ten feet above the ground and looked out towards the ocean.

"Stunning," Tsubaki whispered, feeling Elros move some hair behind her ear.

"Much like you," he said. She smiled at the compliment and softly leaned over, giving him a kiss on the cheek. Flas.h.i.+ng her a smile, they continued on to the outcrop. It wasn't that large - roughly twenty feet in diameter - but Tsubaki was surprised to see a table laden with food waiting for the, ensconced in a green forcefield. Elros offered her a seat, pulling out one of the chairs.

"Thank you," she said as she sat down, watching him take the other side. As he faced the land, she faced the beautiful water. A second later, he unveiled it for them. Tsubaki was surprised to see the impressive spread laid out for her; Elros noted the look.

"I thought we could have lunch and talk a bit before moving on," Elros said as he served her.

"I'd like that. You're very… thoughtful," she said, noting how peculiar this was. It seemed like he had everything planned out to a 'T'.

"I'm happy you think so. I certainly try my best," Elros said cheerfully as they slowly began to dig in.

"How did you plan this?" she asked.

"Now, now - you can't expect me to reveal my secrets, can you?" Elros asked in a mock flabbergasted tone.

"Fine. But I should warn you in advance that I can't as well," Tsubaki said.

"What do you mean?" Elros inquired.

"Sona warned me that you would try and charm some of our tactics for the Rating Game," Tsubaki said with a smile.

"I'm offended that you would think so little of me!" Elros said in a shocked voice.

"You're not going to try?" Tsubaki asked.

"Of course, I am! I just wouldn't be so brusque about it! First I'd slowly wine and dine you; then I'd kiss you along your neck, slowly moving to yo-," Elros began before Tsubaki covered his mouth with her hand, turning red yet again.

"Not at the table, at least," she said in a soft voice. Elros smiled and gently took her hand in his. Tsubaki watched him admire it before bringing it to his lips, kissing it softly. It was a measured response, she thought - not something done in the heat of the moment, but something that he thought out.

"As you wish," Elros said, still holding her hand. He intertwined his fingers with hers. Tsubaki gently caressed his hand with her thumb, finally noticing something.

"Your hands are… rough," she said.

"Does it both you?" Elros asked.

"No, not even in the slightest. Just… an observation," she said.

"I have to use them quite a bit in my line of work, even with my powers. I suppose you could say being a Green Lantern necessitates a thicker skin - literally," Elros said with a dry chuckle.

"It sounds like a difficult living," she said.

"It is. But so worthwhile. I can't begin to describe how I feel after I see the happy looks on a race of aliens that I've never met but whom I've just saved. They lavish their thanks upon me, finally having hope rekindled in their eyes. It's… it's worth it. It's worth everything," Elros said, sounding distant as he ended. It was a moment before he looked at her again, smiling.

"Your hands on the other hand - soft. Very soft," Elros said, now caressing hers. She felt a pleasurable s.h.i.+ver go down her spine as she felt his thumb lightly caress her skin.

"Evidence of a bit more sheltered life, perhaps," Tsubaki said.

"Nonsense. At your age, they should be soft," Elros said.

"Doesn't the same apply to you, then?" she asked.

"The exception to the rule," Elros said. They ate in silence for a bit before Tsubaki spoke again.

"Have you ever considered retiring? I get the distinct feeling that in your case, an early retirement would be… welcome," she said.

"Nope. I intend to keep it going for as long as I can. Although, as I was telling Rias a bit earlier, it's not like I can keep doing this forever. It's a difficult job and it takes its toll. That said, I don't see myself stopping anytime in the near future," Elros said.

"I see," Tsubaki said, thinking on his answer.

"How about you? You mentioned that you were from a family of exorcists. Do you still practice?" Elros asked.

"Mmm, no, not really - at least not anymore. After I had a falling out with them, I started doing it less and less. And now…," Tsubaki said, gulping and looking down. Elros cupped her face in his hand, gently caressing her cheek. Tsubaki brought her hand to his and pressed it against her cheek a bit harder, taking in the feeling. While they were rough, they were also warm and comfortable she thought - if he was to hold on and never let go, she was sure she wouldn't mind.

"This is nice," she whispered.

"I'm glad you think so," Elros said with a smile. She returned it before continuing.

"And now… Whenever I do - or try - it reminds me of them. It's not a pleasant thought, but it's there," Tsubaki said.

"I understand," Elros said before pausing for a second and continuing "But I'm curious - what did you think of being an exorcist? Weren't you afraid of the spirits?" he asked.

"Mmm… No, never. I saw spirits differently from how my family did. They thought that they were all evil things that we needed to get rid of because of the effect they had on humans. But… a lot of these spirits were human, to begin with. The souls and lives of people past, holding on to the last of their humanity - which is what prevented them from pa.s.sing to the next life. There are many spirits of evil and terrible people - but I'd say those are the exceptions. Most spirits that I came across tended to simply be wanderers, kind or completely ambivalent to the presence of people. They just floated along, not sure what to do. Exorcising them gave them peace so they could finally move on. It's the part of what of I did that really made me… happy, I guess. Knowing that I helped someone," Tsubaki said as she put her fork down, looking past Elros's face and out to the ocean. She let out a deep sigh as she remembered how her life was before she became a Devil.

"If you could reconcile with your family, would you?" Elros asked.

"I'm… not sure, to be honest. Our relations.h.i.+p wasn't like what you had with your father, but it wasn't great. They completely shunned me because of my power. If I met them again, I think the bigger question would be would they want to reconcile with me," Tsubaki said with a bitter smile.

"They'd be fools not to, I think," Elros said.

"What do you mean?" Tsubaki asked.

"Any parent would be proud of the woman you've become. You're intelligent and beautiful and you have a kind heart. The ideal child any parent would want," Elros said with a smile.

"Please stop. You're going to make me blush," Tsubaki said, smiling and turning red.

"You already are," Elros chuckled, kissing her hand once before returning to their meal.

-o-

Elros and Tsubaki were again cruising down the PCH, with Tsubaki's head mostly turned to the right. Her mouth was slightly open as she continued to admire the ma.s.sive stretch of ocean laid out before her.

'This is… beautiful,' Tsubaki thought. The sun was finally beginning its descent in the distance, casting a fiery glow across the sky and water. The orange tint mixed with the crisp wind made this one of the most romantic things she could've ever imagined. Elros seemingly had the same idea as he made an impromptu stop, pulling over.

Getting out of the car, Elros extended an arm for her which she happily took and led her down the cliff on a path he constructed. As there was no beach to speak of, they remained suspended over the churning and frothy white water below. Creating a couch construct, Elros and Tsubaki sat down and looked out into the distance, enjoying the moment.

"This is absolutely stunning," Tsubaki said.

"It certainly is," Elros said as he turned to look at her. Tsubaki felt his gaze and met it. She leaned her head down on his shoulder, exhaling in content as she touched. Elros began weaving his hand through her hair as she rested hers on his stomach, slightly moving it up and down as she continued to watch the sunset.

'This is perfect,' she thought as she felt him bring his head to hers. The two stayed in that position for hours, simply enjoying the others company and the stunning view.

-o-

"Looks like it's getting dark outside. Where are we now?" Tsubaki wondered.

"Just outside of San Juan Capistrano. Towards the end of the PCH," Elros said.

"I think you were right," she said.

"Of course, I was… what was I right about?" Elros wondered, eliciting a giggle from her.

"That the journey is important. I don't think I've ever taken the time to enjoy a sunset before," Tsubaki said.

"I'm glad you thought so. If you're happy, then I'm very happy," Elros said with a smile as he pulled over again.

"What now?" she asked as he led her onto the beach - notably empty. He created a blanket construct and laid down, bringing her with him. Tsubaki smiled and got comfortable, rested her head on his chest as he rested his hands on her stomach.

"Stargazing. This place has some light pollution, but it's not so bad that you can't see anything. It's quite a beautiful spot," Elros said.

"That it is," Tsubaki said. She felt him reach down and take her hands in his own before he lifted them both up.

"The Big Dipper," he said, tracing the stars that made it up. Tsubaki smiled at the gesture. She intertwined her free hand with his and listened to him talk about the constellations.

"And there's Orion's Belt - also known as the Three Kings. Alnitak, Alnilam, and Mintaka," Elros said, tracing the three prominent stars that made up the figure.

"Have you been to any of those stars?" Tsubaki asked.

"I have. Each has its own Solar System, but only one of them has an inhabited planet. The life there is still in its very nascent stages - I'd compare to the Silurian Period on Earth. It's still very much underwater, although the land is stunning. Some of the largest trees I've ever seen," Elros said.

"Wow," Tsubaki whispered, thinking about what it must be like. She only had Earth for comparison - so she thought of the Redwood trees they saw on the way down the Highway, although far bigger.

"It's beautiful out there for sure. But Earth… Earth will always be my favorite," Elros said with a smile.

"Why is that?" Tsubaki asked.

"The people here are amazing. I love it all. So many people - from all walks of life. I'm never bored when I'm here," Elros said.

"I imagine other civilizations are like that as well, though," Tsubaki said.

"Sure. But there's only one Rias, Akeno, Sona, and Tsubaki, though," Elros said. He felt Tsubaki s.h.i.+ft on top of him as she turned 180 degrees, facing him.

"You're sweet," she said with a smile as she rested her chin on his chest, looking up at him.

"So I've been told," Elros said as he brought a finger up to caress her cheek. Tsubaki took his hand gently in hers and pressed it against her face, exhaling at the pleasure the touch gave her. She felt him gently bring her face up closer and closer to his. She gulped as she thought about what was going to happen. A moment later, she was closer to him than she had ever been before - a couple of inches between their lips. He stopped her there - a.n.a.lyzing her gaze with his own, trying to discern what the right move should be.

Tsubaki decided to take the initiative. She brought a hand to his face and caressed it gently, tracing the scar that she had come to adore. Licking her lips, she eased her head down a bit until she finally felt her soft lips touch his rough ones. It was like electric to her senses as they both began ramping it up. She felt his hands slide down across her back until they were gripped around her waist. Her own arm moved up his body, around his neck as she felt his tongue enter her mouth and begin to explore. Elros smirked inwards as he elicited a deep moan of pleasure from her as he flicked her tongue with his. He quickly rolled her on her back and took control, resting his fists on either side of her head.

Tsubaki felt Elros's pa.s.sion burn through his kiss as he got a bit rougher - a sensation that she enjoyed a bit. She never gave any thought to what her first kiss would be like, but she was certain that the thought never crossed her mind that it would be with someone like him. A man that entered her life via the best friend of her master, who flirted with almost everyone - yet somehow managed to make them all feel special. He certainly did so for her - he had taken her on a much more different date than he took Rias or Sona or Akeno on. She never thought that a drive could be so much fun - so entertaining and view expanding, yet this one certainly was. She saw a place that wasn't too far out of her reach - after all, she could be anywhere; but a place that she never once thought about. Now that she saw how beautiful the coast was, she wondered what else she missed out on - as well as what else would Elros introduce her to? The thought made her quite happy as she brought her legs up around his waist, pulling him in.

Elros broke the kiss and began going down her neck, taking pleasure in the audible moans he elected from her as he sucked on the base. Tsubaki bit her bottom lip as she took in the feel, pressing his head down as deep as it would go. Suddenly, she felt a hand begin to move down her side. It was a sensation that gave her pleasure, but also brought her pause. She waited to see what he would do - and it soon became evident. Reaching the hem of her dress, she felt his hand begin to slide up under. As it was on her thigh and going ever up, Tsubaki felt a cacophony in her mind - was this the right time? Were they going too fast? Should she do this with him before Sona? There were many questions, the answers which made her uncomfortable. She soon felt him begin to trace her, gasping at the touch. She closed her eyes and took the feeling in before making her decision.

"Elros, wait. Please stop," she suddenly said. She felt him pause his hand before he stopped kissing her neck. As he did so, she took a moment to take in the situation; his finger was resting on her thigh while his lips were placed on her shoulder. Slowly and measuredly, Elros retracted his hand before looking at her. She saw the primal look in his eye; she had an idea of where this would go if she didn't stop him. She took his face in her hands and caressed it before sitting up, visibly uncomfortable at the awkward moment.

"What's up?" Elros asked, brus.h.i.+ng some hair behind her ear.

"I… like you. A lot. But… this is moving really fast," she said, meeting his gaze. He was silent for a moment before nodding.

"I understand," he said.

"You do?" she asked in surprise.

"Sure. I'm not going to force you to do anything you don't want to, Tsubaki," Elros said, smiling.

"I… see. And you're not… angry with me?" she asked.

"Why would I be angry with you?" he asked.

"That I don't wish to… move so quickly?" she asked, turning red.

"Of course, I'm not angry with you. That's ridiculous. I'm quite content just to enjoy a moment with you," Elros said. Tsubaki looked surprised at his answer but smiled quickly. Getting on her knees, she took his head in her hands again and kissed him once more before resting her forehead against his.

"I… want to explore this further with you. A… relations.h.i.+p, I mean. I know that you're with Sona and the others as well, but… I don't know how to explain it," she said.

"I'd very much like the same thing," Elros said as he put his hands around her waist and brought her to lay on top of him. Tsubaki smiled at the position they were in, his hands resting on her mid back and on the back of her head. She was certain he wouldn't try anything uncouth so soon - and she had to admit that she was comfortable in his arms in such a way. Bringing her lips back down to his, they continued their pa.s.sionate session, devoid of any uncertainty - much to her delight. She was happy to know where they stood with each other and that she could make what made her uncomfortable known to him in such an easy fas.h.i.+on.

-o-

Elros and Tsubaki stepped through a magic portal to the Sitri Household where she was still staying.

"I had a wonderful time," she said, resting her hands on his chest, leaning up to kiss him.

"As did I. Let's do this again very, very soon. You're… quite the kisser," Elros said as he swooped down, locking lips with her for a while longer. Tsubaki giggled at his antics and leaned in, enjoying his taste as much as he enjoyed hers.

"I'll see you later?" she asked as she kissed his cheek.

"Definitely," Elros said, winking at her before opening another portal and leaving. As soon as he left, the doors blew wide open. Sona was standing with there, a knowing smile on her lips. Tsubaki smiled at her and soon walked through the threshold - there would be a lot of talk between them tonight, she thought.