Chapter Text
Fuck.
Adam felt the sharp pain tearing through his back, his stomach, and whatever other shitty organ must’ve been punctured. He coughed, spitting golden blood onto the ground. What a fucking joke. Dying in this hole.
Hell’s air was thick, heavy with sulfur, making every breath harder than the last. The chills from blood loss set in. Then the shaking.
What a fucking punchline.
He dragged himself away from the battlefield, stumbling into some random alley in a city that reeked of everything imaginable. His mask was cracked, barely hiding his face or his nose anymore. How the hell had a mere sinner landed hits like that? Now he was here — wounded, alone, rage and frustration burning through his veins like acid.
He leaned against the wall. The world spun. He forced himself to breathe in and out, his breaths already cold.
Goddamnit…
He closed his eyes, hoping that if he slept, the pain would fade away. But he knew it wouldn’t be sleep.
It would be—
“Adam.”
He shuddered at the familiar voice.
Opening his eyes, his body tensed at the sight in front of him. Blood poured from the wound in his abdomen, pooling on the ground. He smiled bitterly.
“Well, look at that. The King of Hell himself,” he sneered, forcing the most venomous tone he could muster, teeth stained with gold. He straightened his posture, even as his organs twisted inside him, just to stand taller than Lucifer. “What, here to finish the job? Or did you come to laugh and rub in how powerful you are now?”
He grabbed his golden guitar — more out of pride than any real intent to fight.
“You know what? Fuck it. Either way, it’s bullshit.”
But the response wasn’t what he expected.
Lucifer frowned, as if in pain, eyes dropping to the ground.
“I…” His voice was low. “I didn’t come for either of those reasons.”
Fuck, just hearing that shitty voice makes me want to strangle him—
“Hah.” Adam spat blood onto the ground. “So what, you were just strolling through the city and thought, ‘Hey, maybe I’ll check on the person I hate the most in my entire existence. See if he’s already choked to death on his own blood?’”
He made sure every word dripped with bitterness.
He saw Lucifer recoil.
Good. Very good.
“I—” Lucifer struggled, barely able to form syllables. “No…”
Adam’s golden eyes widened. Now he could see him clearly.
He hadn’t changed much since—
“You’re a fucking joke, Lucifer,” Adam growled, his strength fading again. “You wanted me dead, didn’t you? Then finish the damn job, you—”
“I wasn’t going to-” Lucifer tried to say.
You bastard. You can’t even look at me.
“Since Eden you haven’t shown your face,” Adam snapped, anger flaring. “And whose fault do you think that is?”
Lucifer stepped back again, his face twisting in something like pain.
“Oh, no. Don’t give me that shit,” Adam spat more blood. “You big—”
Suddenly, the fallen angel rolled up one sleeve of his robes and bit down hard.
Adam blinked.
Golden blood spilled from Lucifer’s wrist as he lifted it, trembling, toward Adam.
“Here.”
The First Man stared in shock. For a moment, he didn’t understand what was happening. When it clicked, his jaw clenched.
Oh… no.
“What the fuck is this?” he snarled. “You think I want your damn blood?!”
He slapped Lucifer’s wrist away.
“You fucker. You think this fixes anything?!”
Lucifer looked away — then extended his wrist again.
That only made Adam angrier.
“You think I need kindness, Your Majesty?” he sneered, disgusted. “That’s what they call you now, right?”
Lucifer didn’t answer.
That silence was unbearable.
“Yeah, that’s right. Stay quiet. Be the superior one,” Adam snapped, saying anything just to get a reaction. “Go back to that shitty hotel and your stupid daughter I almost killed and—”
Pain exploded across his face.
Lucifer had punched him.
“What did you say?!” Lucifer’s voice finally cracked with emotion. Anger.
Adam grinned, blood dripping from his teeth. He laughed — though the effort nearly made him collapse.
“Aw. Playing the worried father now? How cute,” he rasped, slumping against the wall as his vision darkened. “Thanks for the kindness.”
“I really didn’t want to fight you,” Lucifer said, stepping closer. “But you insult my daughter.”
“And here I thought you didn’t care about anyone,” Adam scoffed. “Six thousand years change a man… or do you just pretend, like always?”
Lucifer froze. His eyes widened, as if Adam had said something unspeakable.
Maybe he had.
Adam chuckled bitterly.
“Yeah… I know you.” He closed his eyes. He was going to pass out. Or die.
How ironic, that the last thing I’d see would be you.
But then—
He opened his eyes.
The sweet scent of Lucifer’s golden blood filled the air.
“Drink,” Lucifer said, not meeting his gaze.
Adam hesitated. His pride screamed at him to refuse, to keep insulting Lucifer until he bled out right there.
But his mind was exhausted. His body was exhausted. He grabbed Lucifer’s wrist roughly.
“Fuck it. Give it here.”
The moment his lips touched Lucifer’s blood, something changed. The pain. The exhaustion. Everything began to fade. Adam’s eyes widened at the sweetness — like sugary nectar. He drank, licking the wound, his grip tightening around Lucifer’s wrist.
“G-gh—” Lucifer shuddered.
Adam didn’t stop. His organs no longer hurt — actually, they felt stronger than ever. He sighed between gulps. It was as if he’d been starving for something he never knew he needed.
Like tasting forbidden fruit.
Like—
He pulled back abruptly.
“What is this? What are you doing to me?”
For a moment, he trembled.
“You’re the King of Hell — how does your blood taste like this? How does it do this?” He gestured at his healed body. “How are you still—”
Lucifer gave a weak smile and shrugged, exhausted.
“I guess I’m still good for something,” he murmured, looking away.
Adam stared at him.
You always have to be good at everything, don’t you?
“Go fuck yourself,” Adam muttered, straightening his posture, fully healed. Lucifer almost smiled.
“Leave, Adam.” Lucifer turned away. “Hell isn’t a place for you.”
“…!”
“W-wait!” Adam called, louder than he meant to. “You’re just letting me go? Just like that?”
Lucifer didn’t answer.
“Why did you help me?!” Adam followed him, furious.
Lucifer stopped, not turning around.
“I think I still feel guilty for—” He hid his face, as if tasting something rotten. “Forget it.”
It felt like a punch to Adam’s gut.
“Eden?” The word hurt the moment it left his mouth. “For… leaving me behind?”
He hadn’t meant to say it like that. Almost like a plea.
Lucifer didn’t turn back.
“Go,” he said.
Then he spread his wings and took flight. Adam watched him disappear into the red sky. Anger. Confusion. Bitterness. And something dangerously close to pain twisted inside him.
“Yeah, fuck off. I don’t care.”
He stayed in that alley for a while longer. Golden blood everywhere.
“This place can go to hell,” he muttered, taking off.
There was less venom in his voice this time.
-
Adam flew toward Heaven’s gates through a portal, cursing everything the entire way.
What the fuck was that?
What a goddamn mess.
There was no way he’d let himself be dragged into that so easily. He clenched his jaw hard, slipping his broken mask back on so at least no one could see his face twisted with rage. Useless. Completely useless.
He passed straight by the idiot angel guarding the gates without a word.
“A-A-Adam?” Saint Peter stammered.
Adam didn’t answer.
He landed on the clouds of the city, fists clenched so tightly his nails dug into his skin.
What a fucking disaster.
As he approached his post, he noticed all of his Exterminators staring at him in shock. They rushed toward him — some terrified, some crying, some both. Adam raised an eyebrow.
Ah. Shit.
“Hey, bitches. What’s wrong?” he snapped. “PMS again? I already told you, all of you syncing up like that is—”
“Adam…!” one of them tried to hug him.
He shoved her away with one hand.
“What the fuck—”
Then he saw Lute approaching. She wasn’t wearing her helmet. Her golden eyes were wide. She walked slowly, like she was looking at a ghost. Her sword slipped from her hands, hitting the ground with a metallic clang.
“Adam…” Her voice trembled. “You’re… alive?”
Tears welled in her eyes.
Ah.
“I can’t believe you thought some shitty sinner could kill me,” Adam scoffed, straightening his posture. “Nice faith you’ve got there, bitch.”
Lute smiled through her tears.
“I-I’m sorry,” she said, wiping her face. “It’s just that… I had just finished… reporting your death to Sera.”
“YOU WHAT?” Adam shouted, then exhaled sharply. “You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me…”
Lute lowered her head.
“I’m sorry, sir.”
Adam shrugged.
“I’ll go talk to her. You’re dismissed.”
He gestured and started toward Sera’s office.
Lute followed him anyway. Adam didn’t bother saying anything — it was pointless. She’d follow no matter what. He took a moment to breathe in Heaven’s air. Light. Clean. Nothing like that hellhole.
His jaw tightened just thinking about it. The sweet taste lingered in his mouth, only making his anger worse — and somehow numbing his entire body.
Damn you…
At Sera’s office, Adam knocked on the door harder than necessary.
“Hey, boss! Open up!”
After a few seconds, the Seraphim opened the door.
“Adam?” Her eyes widened.
“Yeah, me. Didn’t die, okay?” he snapped, already trying to end the conversation. “You can save the crying and the—”
“Come in,” Sera said simply, stepping aside.
He sighed. Annoying as hell.
He did as told. Lute followed but stayed inside the room, standing guard by the door. Sera sat behind her desk. Her expression was unreadable.
“Adam… I’m so sorry that—” Her eyes drifted to his torn, bloodstained clothes.
“Sera— I mean, ma’am— I mean— look,” he stumbled over his words, “I know it looked bad, alright? Real bad. But I’m here. Flesh, bone, and—”
She stared at him as if he’d said something shocking.
“Wait…”
“What? You want the play-by-play? Things went to shit, but I handled it, and I’m not letting it—”
“Lute,” Sera interrupted. “Leave us.”
Lute hesitated, then obeyed. The door closed.
“Huh?” Adam frowned. “Look, I know it looks bad, but it wasn’t—”
“Adam…” Sera’s voice trembled. “How did you… survive?”
He stepped back slightly.
“What? You questioning my strength now?” he scoffed. “I survived because I—”
Tears gathered at the corners of Sera’s eyes.
…!
“That scent…” she whispered, almost like a whimper.
The word hit Adam like a punch to the gut.
Something twisted inside him. His confident expression faltered for just a second. The air felt heavy, suffocating. He forced himself to recover.
“What scent? Smells like nothing,” he snapped, trying to change the subject, though his face twisted in disgust.
Silence.
“Lu—” The syllable escaped Sera’s trembling lips as she gripped the edge of her desk.
It felt like Adam had been run over.
That single sound — the beginning of Lucifer’s name — made him step back again, fists clenching, teeth grinding.
“No,” he says, venom dripping from his voice. “Don’t you dare.”
“I-I’m sorry,” Sera whispered, trying to hold back tears. “I just—”
Saying his name in Heaven was taboo. And now even the Archangel was doing it.
“Yeah, you should be sorry,” Adam muttered, exhaustion crashing down on him. And something like pain in his chest — which he convinced himself was from the injuries. (Which weren’t even there anymore.)
“You may go now, Adam,” Sera said quietly.
He stared at her for a moment.
“Yeah. Whatever.”
He stormed out, cursing Sera, himself, and Lucifer in his head. Adam left the office with a crushing weight on his shoulders — on his chest, his whole body. Lute started to follow him, but he didn’t even notice. His hands shoved into his pockets, his vision slightly blurred.
He couldn’t focus on anything. He heard the angelic songs echoing through Heaven’s streets, but couldn’t distinguish them. The signs, the lights — none of it registered.
The only thing he could hear was—
Leave, Adam. Hell isn’t a place for you.
His voice.
Six thousand years later.
“Of course he’d show up now,” Adam muttered, not caring whether Lute heard him. “After all this fucking time.”
Lute looked at him, but knew better than to ask.
“What the fuck was that?” he continued. “Acting like we’re— what, old friends? Giving me—”
Adam slammed his fist into a nearby wall, cracking it.
“Sir?” Lute asked softly.
“Shut up,” Adam snapped. “I’m going home.”
He marched through Heaven’s streets, heart pounding in his ears. He moved on autopilot, bumping into others without caring.
His mask hung crooked on his face.
“This stupid fucking mask!” he shouted, ripping it off and throwing it down the street.
When he reached his house, he slammed the door so hard the entire structure shook.
The moment it closed, he stopped pretending.
A raw, furious scream tore from his throat as he destroyed whatever was within reach.
“THAT BASTARD!” He grabbed a chair and hurled it against the wall. “GO TO HELL!” The chair shattered one of his records.
I HATE THIS SHIT.
I HATE YOU.
I HATE YOU, LUCIFER!
Six thousand years of bottled rage burst like a dam breaking, flooding everything in its path.
Adam’s body began to tremble. His angelic energy exploded outward, objects rattling, decorations nearly falling from the walls.
“I SHOULD’VE KILLED HIM WHEN I HAD THE CHANCE!” he roared, punching through the wall. “SNAPPED THAT LITTLE NECK—”
Lucifer’s exhausted face flashed through his mind.
I guess I’m still good for something…
His words. His eyes that never met Adam’s anymore. They weren’t like they were in Eden — bright, innocent blue. Now they were red. Tired. Full of—
“Fuck it. He got what he deserved,” Adam muttered, breathless.
He staggered toward a cabinet near the kitchen, searching for something — anything — to make him feel less like complete shit. His shaking fingers found whiskey. Holy, blessed whiskey. Of course.
He uncapped the bottle and drank straight from it. His face twisted.
It tasted awful.
It had never tasted this bad before. The burn down his throat made his eyes sting.
“His blood is poisoning me. It has to be.”
The sweetness still lingering in his mouth made everything else feel—
He hurled the bottle against the floor.
“SON OF A BITCH!”
He ran a hand through his hair.
…
“He let me go,” Adam whispered, staring at his own wrist, squeezing it tight.
Why?
Damn fallen angel. Damn him.
He collapsed onto the bed, exhausted.
Lucifer… why now?
He dragged a hand down his face. The taste of sugary nectar still clung to his tongue. His veins.
The knot in his stomach tightened.
“Disgusting.”
But there was no disgust in his voice.
Lucifer…
His eyes closed despite his resistance. Exhaustion wrapped around him, even as he fought it.
He didn’t want to sleep.
His veins burned with frustration, rage, and—
…
…
“Hey, Adam.”
The familiar voice jolted him awake.
…?!
“Did I wake you?” the gentle voice asked. “Sorry.”
“N-no, I—” Adam tried to focus.
Lucifer stood before him, golden angelic energy surrounding his small body. His blue eyes were bright, vibrant, and he wore an innocent smile on pale skin.
“Lucifer,” Adam whispered, his voice weaker than usual.
The small angel smiled, and something twisted inside the First Man. Adam looked around. Green leaves swayed with the wind. Ahead of them, a large lake reflected the light, small waves gently lapping against the shore. He breathed in Eden’s pure air, the scent of flowers and fruit filling his lungs. The two of them sat down on the grass.
“It’s a beautiful day today,” Adam said — not with his usual sharp tone, but gently.
“Yes,” the angel beside him replied softly. “Are you alright?”
Adam sighed.
“Yeah…” He kept his gaze fixed on the horizon.
“I… I saw Lilith alone a little while ago,” Lucifer’s voice grew quieter.
The First Man clenched his teeth.
“I only asked her to do ONE thing,” Adam crossed his arms. “But apparently that’s asking too much.”
He sighed.
It felt like all of it was his own failure. Why did Lilith have to be so difficult? They had been made to live together there, in that paradise — but lately things hadn’t been going well. It made Adam more and more frustrated, though he wouldn’t show it to anyone. They’d know anyway.
“You’ll figure things out,” the celestial voice beside him filled his ears.
“Yeah, I know,” Adam ran a hand through his brown hair. “It’s just that sometimes…”
No. I shouldn’t show anything.
“I can talk to her.”
Adam turned toward the small angelic being. A faint smile insisted on appearing at the corner of his lips every time he saw Lucifer’s faith.
“Thank you, Luci,” Adam’s voice softened. He reached out, gently brushing his fingers through the angel’s hair. His chest filled with warmth.
“Hey, hey!” the small angel smiled. “To cheer you both up, I want to show you something I made!”
“Oh yeah?” Adam replied, curious. “And what is it this time? Another one of your songs?”
He laughed, sincere.
“No.” Lucifer shook his head, his large hat nearly slipping off. “Well, I don’t have a name for it yet, but…”
“Show me. I want to see,” the First Man encouraged the small seraph.
Lucifer pulled something out of his white robe.
“Ta-da!” he smiled, his six wings fluttering excitedly.
Adam looked at the creature in Lucifer’s hands. It was yellow, with feathers and a beak. It flapped its tiny wings and made a strange sound.
“A… bird?” Adam asked, intrigued.
“Aha! That’s where you’re wrong — it’s not just a bird! Come on,” the seraph tugged Adam by the hand toward the lake. “I asked permission to make it like this…”
Lucifer placed the animal into the water with his small hands.
To Adam’s surprise, the yellow creature began to float atop the surface.
“I-it’s… it looks like it’s floating,” the man’s golden eyes widened.
“Isn’t it a good idea to be good at more than one thing?” the angel looked at his creation with gentle eyes and a pure smile.
Something twisted in Adam’s chest again.
“Yeah… I think so,” he tried to say, but he was too captivated by the sight.
“Quack! Quack!”
The animal made the sound, and Adam snorted with laughter.
“That’s the sound you gave it?” he threw his head back. “That’s so you, Luci.”
“Hey! I wanted to make something… different. Something anyone could recognize!” Lucifer puffed out his cheeks, pretending to be annoyed.
“Haha, and you did,” Adam smiled widely. “Congratulations, Luci. It’s incredible. Lilith will love it too, I’m sure.”
The small seraph’s blue eyes lit up.
“Really?” Lucifer asked, his voice touched by the praise.
“Of course. Let’s show her,” Adam took Lucifer’s hands, the difference in size between their fingers clearly visible. “Let’s give it a name together.”
Adam crouched down, ready to pick the animal up — but there was a hole in the grass. He slipped at the edge of the lake, lost his balance, and fell into the water, dragging Lucifer down with him.
“Ah!”
The water was cold, though the lake wasn’t very deep. Adam pulled his hand up first, lifting Lucifer to the surface, then himself. Both of them were soaked.
“I… didn’t see that hole,” Adam felt the urge to say something sharp, but didn’t.
Then he heard laughter.
Lucifer’s laugh started timid, then grew louder. Beautiful.
“What?” Adam was confused, until he looked up.
The yellow animal was sitting on his own head, making that strange sound again.
“Quack! Quack!”
“Hahaha!” the seraph kept laughing. “Looks like you’re not very good at doing two things at once, pfft.”
Adam felt his cheeks heat up.
“Haha, you’re soaked too, mister angelic,” he looked away.
But the laughter was so contagious that Adam’s lips stopped obeying him. Before he realized it, he was laughing too.
Still standing in the lake, they moved closer, resting their foreheads together like they always did in moments like that.
“Just because of this, I’m giving it a really stupid name,” Adam said between laughs.
God, just being this close to him like this
makes me happy.
I want to see all his inventions, I—
Luci…
“…— Lu—”
“Adam!”
“…— Sir!”
Adam’s eyes snapped open as he sat up abruptly. His heart hammered in his ears. His body was drenched in sweat beneath the blood-stained robe he hadn’t even bothered to take off.
“GO FUCK YOURSELF, LUTE!” Adam shouted in frustration, running his hands through his soaked hair.
Holy fucking shit.
“S-sorry, sir, but you slept for an entire day and—”
Adam’s golden eyes widened.
A day?
He pulled the curtain aside slightly, seeing the sky already bright again. Even after sleeping for a full day, it felt like a truck had run over his body.
He groped for the nightstand, reaching for some water. A plastic bottle was there. He squeezed it, the cap popping loose.
Fucking hell of a time to have nightmares again about that—
He lifted the bottle to his mouth and spat immediately.
“What the fuck is this? Tastes like shit!” He stared at the bottle. Just water. Nothing else.
He looked around, seeing his house wrecked and broken. He remembered his own outburst. Whiskey on the floor, staining the white carpet.
Everything tastes like shit now after that blood — and now this fucking dream…
No.
This fucking memory…
He slammed his fist into the wall, not caring if it broke again.
That bastard…
He poisoned me.
(It was the only explanation for all of this.)