Even after Sif confessed the full truth of her memories to the group, he and the others still couldn't believe it.
The weight he'd been carrying around from keeping his secret was completely unfounded.
...He felt relieved, but stupid.
"So the reason why you never said that you loved me... It was because of the memories you thought I didn't have?" Sif asked.
"I... Yes." Abaddon admitted. "I didn't feel as if I was qualified to say such a thing when our relation was brought about due to a mishap."
"And now that you know that I am grateful for this mishap... Does that change anything for you?"
Smiling, Abaddon took Sif's face in his hands and grazed her lips against his own.
From behind, she felt someone begin to undress her, but the lingering shivers she felt running down her body were nothing compared to the electricity that set off in her mind when she finally heard the words she had been so desperately missing.
-
Satan: "...Fuck is going on with this asshole?"
Belphegor: "He's in one of those lovey dovey moods of his again... Creepy bastard."
Hajun: "The honeymoon phase never seems to end for you and my daughter, does it..?"
Absalom: "I am pleased to see the relationship between my lord and ladies is going so magnificently."
Darius: "Don't kiss his ass! If you want to keep getting invited down here then you gotta learn how to take the piss out of this bastard sometimes! Go on, give it a try!"
Absalom: "Oh. I mean...Loverboy lookin ass."
Helios: "That's the spirit!"
Within the bowels of the manor, the dim lights within the glorious man cave were burning more brightly than normal.
The smell of brown liquor, beer, and cooked food were filling the air.
A big game was taking place tonight, and instead of going there personally the group decided to host a small watch party.
Buffalo gryphon wings, mounds of fruit, pizzas, and tortilla chips with three different kinds of dip were all lined up for the taking- courtesy of the resident cook; Belphegor.
Despite the festive atmosphere, here was a reason why no one could focus.
From the moment the party began, Abaddon had been radiating an aura of positivity and happiness that was the exact opposite of infectious.
The dragon in question leaned back with a cigar in his mouth and a glass of dark liquor in his hand.
"Hating is bad for your spirits, fellas. You can't be mad at me for being happy that I have good women."
"BOOO!" most everyone inside jeered.
A flurry of tortilla chips flew at Abaddon's head, but the dragon simply plucked them out of the air and ate them casually.
Darius shook his head casually. "I swear, it's like You're the incarnation of-"
"Sorry to interrupt!"
Bekka and Kanami came bouncing in one right after the other, bringing the event to a screeching halt and causing most everyone inside to voice their displeasure.
"Oh, come on!"
"Why do we even bother with the sign on the door..?"
"You ladies have a whole lounge to yourselves already! This is ours!"
Bekka waived away their complaints dismissively. "Don't get your panties in a bunch, we just came down here to grab some food and we'll be out of your hair."
Kanami had already made her way to the bar and begun eating / snacking.
"You know, we don't go in your sanctuary and start disrupting your flow of energy!" Darius reminded.
"Tampon. Menstruation. Human reality television." Kanami said between bites.
Half the men in the room recoiled at the dreaded words. This included Helios and Hajun- the oldest of the bunch.
Abaddon, his father, and Belphegor chuckled to themselves.
"Jokes on you! I can handle those things." Darius scoffed.
"It doesn't come out like urine, you know? It clumps up and-"
"Alright, alright, I get it! You win!!"
"That's why."
Kanami smiled victoriously as she scooped herself an extra helping of guac to pay herself on the back.
"See? We were barely in here a minute." Bekka smiled with her three to-go plates that were each filled to the brim with food.
"A minute too long if you ask me..."
"It's a good thing nobody asked you, Uncle Satan!"
*Unintelligible grumbling*
Ignoring him, Bekka sought out her husband and gave him a long kiss underneath everyone's gaze.
"BOOOO!!!!"
"Go through their phones, you'll find a text from me saying 'I can't believe you fit the whole thing in your mouth'!" he joked.
"What was that!?"
Everyone inside the room devolved into fits of laughter, save for Darius.
The thing about Satan's humor was that he knew who he could try it with and who he couldn't.
He was a wild man, but he couldn't imagine cracking those same jokes at his nephew or older brother's expense.
Or Helios' for that matter...
Absalom leaned back in his recliner as he ate tortilla chips by the fistful.
"Perhaps... there may be some merit in a group bonding excursion. I have come to enjoy this new life and position, but I do sometimes long for the days of rigorous battle with an army of unworthy foes before me..."
"A man after my own heart, eh? I like you!" Satan laughed. "If the excursion leads us to the field of battle, then you may also count me in!"
Hakon rubbed his short goatee thoughtfully. "I will ask Kanami what she thinks about this."
"You two aren't even official yet, you don't have to ask her shit! Just go!" Darius cried.
"He may not have to ask her for permission, but giving her a little notice is not unfounded. It's just good manners." Abaddon reasoned.
"Simp!"
"Shrimp."
Darius growled and rolled his eyes. "Anyway, that's four! Belphegor?"
"Count me out. Sounds like too much work."
"Good thing I don't actually give a damn what you want. Five!" Darius cheered. "Iori?"
Abaddon's Uncle was at the bar refilling his plate when he was suddenly asked about his participation.
"I don't have anyone waiting for me at home, so I have no objections. I'll just leave a clone here for drills with my recruits."
"Yes! Six!" Darius cheered.
He then turned towards Helios, Hajun, and Abaddon. The people he wanted to go the most.
"Well???"
A look was exchanged between Helios and Hajun.
"...I'll go if you do." Hajun shrugged.
Helios fell silent.
Like Absalom said, he did miss the field of battle.
But for the first time in years, he had his darling Rhea back.
And day by day, he was learning to find greater glory in being a husband, and a grandfather.
However... He felt like he may have been gaining some weight from lying around so much more than he was used to.
A week or more of solid exercise might do him some real good.
But he remained on the fence about it.
"I'm not sure... Where would we even travel to? I won't leave the comfort of my wives' arms just to stop some petty bandits from pillaging a village." he scoffed.
"About that..." Abaddon suddenly said.
Everyone in the room turned to him with a curious look in their eye.
"I was waiting until the game ended to say something, but... things have changed. Yesh has released me from my seals."
Helios slowly sat up; his eyes beginning to flicker with passion.
"What..?"
"All of you would still fall underneath the heavenly restriction, but... I am unbound. So if you all don't mind leaving a portion of your power behind, then.."
"We can free my home..!" Helios muttered with reverence.
The golden dragon didn't need to hear anything further.
He put his plate down and stood up; his entire body coursing with power.
"I have waited... ages for this..! I will have my revenge and burn that world asunder for what they have done to my people. To our people!"
One by one, the men inside the room stood up with equal determination in their eyes.
"I guess I'm in." Hajun chuckled.
"Will I win brownie-points if I accompany you, father-in-law?" Asmodeus asked.
"Fuck no."
"I'll come anyway."
Now, Abaddon was the last one still seated as he slowly inhaled his cigar.
'Ten old dragons against an entire world bent on our exploitation... Might be fun.'