Rushing to the mortal realm, Taehyung was too shocked to find the proper words to speak with.
But once they were back, he looked at Jungkook with big and worryfull eyes.
"How could you just let him be!? W-what if something happens- what if he-"
Jungkook sighed, placing his hands above Taehyung's shoulders.
"And what should i have done? Let you get hurt? You know i would never risk such a thing. Your life against the whole world."
A small blush couldn't help but creep up on Taehyung's cheek's as his eyes widened.
"And Lucifer is fine. You think i would go there without a plan? It was obvious that this was going to happen."
Yet it still seemed unbelievable. If it was a plan all along, then it sure seemed well planned rather than tossing something in the midst of the situation.
"Then... you didn't leave Lucifer?"
Jungkook smirked.
"Ofcourse not. Altough... for him to not be alone now... it did take a lot of convincing."
𖤐𝚆𝚒𝚝𝚌𝚑 𝙰𝚌𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚖𝚢𖤐
Noctis sighed, looking down at the unclear view of the labrinth. It was now covered with fog because of Lucifer's absence, and hell had naturally felt it, covering itself in a thick coat of fog. But it was not just any normal fog. It was the emotions and dreadfull screams of the dead, now surfacing to capture whatever came their way. If you went in, then you would never be able to get out.
So all Noctis could do was just stare at it blankly. He had wanted Lucifer's position in order to wreck this place he called home. This place he had created on his own... to prove a point to someone but to also be true to himself.
He had always looked up to him because of that, but there came a day when he grew stuffy to just be behind his back, staring at it his whole life long.
For him to break his vow to his great lord, all it took was a random thought of; "what would happen if i betrayed him now? Death?"
It was a usual thought to have the word "death" combined with "punishment", yet knowing Lucifer, he probably had a lot more planned than just this. He loved to torture after all. It bought out his true form and essence of life, to death.
And thinking about it now, how he was sure he was going to be punished for it... a smile formed on his thin lips, while his dark blue eyes glistened under the dim light of the room. His existence was a mere aid to the one who kept him by his side, and nothing more. Wanting more out of life was never a sin, and he lived by that... that is if he continued to live still.
"I never would've thought that you of all people, would betray Lucifer."
Noctis felt a flinch on his spine, slowly turning to face the familiar voice.
"Brother... it's unusual for you to be here... at a time like this."
Baal grinned, his eyes empty of any will to do any harm to him. Yet his trembling hands said otherwise.
"Well, you don't seem pleased to see me."
Noctis simply turned his head at that, his hands still behind him.
"Why did you come? I heard you got married."
Baal looked down, his smile now a bit sad.
"I did... and it took a lot of courage to bring her here with me."
Noctis' eyes slightly widened. Just as he was about to question him, he felt a strong pull on his back, his arms getting tied up together by an unbreakable spell.
He then couldn't help but fall on his knees, loosing balance.
Behind him, creeped up a small figure of a young woman, her hair long and eyes big. She reminded him of someone.
"Meet my wife, Aimi. Altough... this was not the way i wanted you two to meet but... under these circumstances, it just had to be."
Noctis seemed unbothered by her apperenace, his posture still straight altough he sat on the floor unwillingly.
"So this was a trap?"
Baal shook his head, slowly walking forward.
"No, i had to come here because you betrayed him. And now he is left with noone by his side, but me. And i am not you."
Noctis grimaced, a face he did not show quiet often.
"So you like being his loyal little dog? No need to spit such a fact at my face-"
Baal frowned, his hand now gripping at his hair, thugging it down to smash his head against the floor.
"Don't speak when not allowed to. Not anymore."
Stunned, Noctis couldn't respond. Them moments later, he heard another series of heavy footsteps walk in, followed by a slow clapping sound.
"I am impressed that you had the guts to betray my will. But... that is not a wrong thing- as you were also true to yourself."
Baal glanced up at Lucifer and cocked an eyebrow.
"So you won't kill him?"
Lucifer simply shook his head before flicking his fingers and making Noctis raise his head up to show him shame.
"Not quiet. But... i will give you a rough banishment so you won't know to betray again."
And that was the last words he heard, never seeing the face of hell again.
Soon after he was thrown out of the gates, Baal crossed his arms, watching as Lucifer cleared the fog with another flick of his fingers.
"Never thought you'd strip him of his powers- yet leave his immortality before tossing him out."
Lucifer hummed, seeming indiffrent now that he was gone.
"The satisfaction must feel grander for my father then. Heaven is high up... tossing someone to the pits of the mortal realm would be much more painful than simply throwing someone out on a flat ground."
Baal looked away, his gaze thougtfull.
"Now that he's gone... does it feel diffrent?"
Lucifer smiled.
"Why should it? I have you, don't i? And even your little wife came to accompany you on your upcoming years in hell."
Baal's gaze was still down, which made Lucifer slightly curious.
"Your mind seems left behind at your child. I'm sure she'll be fine in the hands of my best apprentice."
Baal looked up, biting his lower lip.
"You're not angry at him?"
Lucifer let out a loud laugh.
"And why would i be angry? All he did was protect the man he loved, and he didn't care about the cost. Something much i would do, if there is something i want. It is not a sin to be selfish, it's human."
Baal seemed thoughtfull yet again, so Lucifer continued.
"We all have humanity in ourselves, witch or warlock... deamon or monster... the devil or god. Even he is human in the heart somehwere."
That sentence made Baal's spine slightly shiver, gettibg the chills on his back.
"Wise words from a wise old man?"
Lucifer raised his eyebrow, his lips forming a slight pout.
"Who are you calling an old man? If anything your bride is too young for you-"
Baal's eyes twiched, slowly leaning forward to point his finger at him.
"You-"
But Lucifer could only laugh at that while Baal's anger turned into bemusement.
𖤐𝚆𝚒𝚝𝚌𝚑 𝙰𝚌𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚖𝚢𖤐
They were now on their way to the castle to pick Liz up, yet her being left alone was a bit sudden.
Taehyung was worried for that, and could only turn to Jungkook for a solution.
"I still can't believe Aimi would leave her like this."
Jungkook gave Taehyung a look before continuing to walk on the path.
"Why so? She decided to not leave her husband once more. You know how painful that is."
Taehyung looked down, humming.
"I never said i wronged her for her choice. But... i just feel bad for Liz i suppose."
Jungkook smiled, reaching to hold Taehyung's hand.
"It's okay. They will come back."
Looking up at his warm eyes, Taehyung could only rest assured and relax his body.
He was shocked at first to hear that Aimi had made up with Jungkook because of her choice but, didn't tale long for him to smile at it intently.
Before entering hell...
"I... just want to apologize for not understanding you before. But now that imthe decision is left for me to decide... i... don't think i can imagine a life without my husband."
Jungkook was slightly shocked at the words, but not too shocked as he knew his sister well enough to see, that she would come around.
"It's fine. Experience is better than listening. And i was too hard on you too... you wouldn't have understood it anyways."
Aimi could only smile sadly before jumping inside her little brothers arms.
"Ugh! I'm really going to miss you.... if you get a word from Han then don't forget to hug him from me! A-and you better take good care of Liz! Feet her well and teach her the way of witchcrafting and don't forget to-"
Jungkook laughed, happy yet also sad to see her go.
"Okay okay~ we'll be fine. I won't forget anything, i promise."
After breaking the hug, he turned to Baal and looked at him with serious eyes.
"Take care of her well. I know that hell is safe by Lucifer's side but... she's new to it. Don't underestimate anything that comes by your path."
Baal could only smile while shaking his hand wholeheartedly.
He had always been fond of Jungkook and had the utmost trust in him. Thus, he hadn't the slightest worry of letting Liz be under his care, saying the same words back to him so his daughter would be safe and sound.
Thinking back of that night, Jungkook would always get the chills, but would be glad that they separated under good conditions. Yet, even he had been worried about Liz's emotions after letting them leave like that.
But now looking back at how Liz was smiling happily while tears fell down her small cheeks, he could only doubt the worry.
"It's f-fine! Mama loves papa... so she left to be by his side. And that's okay! She is happy... then papa is happy- and when both are happy, i am happy!"
Taehyung's eyes became glossy as he hugged Liz tightly in his arms before exhaling deeply.
"We'll take care of you until they come back. You know they will."
Liz hummed, wiping the tears off her face.
"It's fine if they take long. I have my uncles by my side, so it's fine!"
Jungkook chuckled before placing his hand on top of her head to pat.
"That's a good girl."
Liz was a brave girl, and maybe too mature for her age to even speak so properly. And that made things easier for her to cope with. But understanding the subject of her mother leaving because of her love for her father was still too deep, so until the future arrived and she was older, they could only excpect her to understand it properly then.
But for now, they let things be as they should.
To be continued...