Chapter 48: Make War Then Love
"Woah. This place is pretty big, too," Elros said as he looked around. They were in a large glade surrounded by massive oaks and redwoods - but even they couldn't hide the towering castle in the distance. While the Gremory's home was palatial, this one was even more so. Conical roofs pierced the sky as the crest of the Gremory family flew proud and high. Here and there, Elros caught the reflection of water - likely from a fountain. The red brick facade was inviting, but imposing; welcoming those who dared enter with a bright smile.
"It's my grandparents," Rias said, disentangling from his arm and wrapping it around his waist. Venelana and Zeo looked on with a smile; Rias and Elros reminded them of themselves when they were younger.
"This entire parcel of land is part of the Gremory Territory. My parents prefer to live on the edges, though. They say it's more peaceful. Lucifer knows we certainly have the room for them, but it is what it is," Zeoticus said with a heavy sigh.
"Rias and I came here a lot when we were younger. In this glade, actually. We'd chase each other around and try to outdo the other in flight," Akeno said, smiling fondly as she reminisced.
"I al-,"
"Like hell! I know what you're about to say - and I was always the better flier, right Venelana?" Akeno asked.
"You were, sweetheart. Come on Rias, you know that," Venelana laughed.
"Ugh. I don't remember it like that at all," Rias said.
"Mhm. That's because you're a sore loser," Akeno said, smirking.
"Says the girl who lost to me in a swimming contest," Rias countered.
"Hmph. Barely. And that's only because you and Sona have been friends and swimming since, like, birth. Magic and flight, I win," Akeno declared.
"Magic? You're out of your mind! My Powers of Destruction are way stronger!" Rias said hotly. She and Akeno had disentangled themselves from Elros (who had backed away towards Sirzechs) and were breast-to-breast as they smirked competitively at each other.
"Ha! That's just your inherited power, though! Besides, my Magic is way stronger! Plus, I can control it better!" Akeno exclaimed.
"You want to bet?" Rias asked, the wind picking up around her.
"Bet," Akeno retorted, electricity sparking around her.
"Wow. This is fascinating," Elros whispered to Sirzechs.
"You don't know the half of it. They've mellowed out because they have more responsibilities now, but when they were younger, it was always like this. The same with Sona and Tsubaki," Sirzechs said.
"Who do you think would win?" Elros wondered.
"Could go either way. Akeno's right when she says she has better control over her powers. Rias's Power of Destruction is much stronger. But she lacks controls over them," Sirzechs said.
"How long did it take you and Mrs. G to master yours?"
"Decades, sweetheart," Venelana sighed, coming up beside Elros.
"It's a long process," Zeoticus said. While his wife was an expert on her own powers, Zeo knew his fair share. "It's not the kind of power that you can use anywhere - you have to be exceedingly careful because it can quickly get out of hand. For the first decade when Sirzechs began to use it, we wouldn't let him do it unless it was either here or our home. My wife and I could interfere in case things began to go awry."
"Your powers are Magic, right Mr. G?"
"Correct. Elemental and telekinetic in nature," Zeoticus said.
"Man, that's so cool. I know a telekinetic on a different planet. He's pretty tough," Elros said.
"What is he like?" Zeoticus wondered.
"Terrifying, to be honest," Elros sighed, rubbing his back. "He's a good guy, but an absolute monster when it came to fighting."
"You almost sound afraid, dear. I didn't think anything scared you," Venelana said.
"Oh, you'd be surprised Mrs. G. He definitely does. His willpower is probably stronger than mine if I had to say. He broke my constructs like they were made of glass," Elros said. Venelana noticed that he had turned a bit paler.
"Why did you fight him?"
"I was sent to investigate him because he had turned down a Lantern Ring and we wanted to know why. He said that his planet and people needed him more than the universe and he wouldn't abandon them. I was a lot cockier then, though, so I challenged him - if I beat him, he'd have to reconsider. Well - that didn't turn out how I planned," Elros grumbled, rubbing his head.
"Don't always be so eager to pick fights, hmm?"
"No kidding, Mrs. G. I definitely mellowed out after that," Elros said.
"Did you ever try again?" Venelana asked.
"Last year. And he beat me even worse. It's like he got even stronger in the time between we fought; more than I did, that's for sure. His powers are like cheating," Elros grumbled.
"His telekinesis sounds extremely advanced. How old is he?" Zeo wondered.
"Probably a couple years older than me. Their planet is similar to Earth in a lot of ways, but less explored I think. Last I remember, he was adventuring," Elros said.
"He seems quite powerful for someone so young," Zeo said.
"Yeah, dudes a monster. The ones who made my ring would probably have a tough time with him. Explains why no one has ever targeted his planet. Still, with great power comes great responsibility. He has his own issues," Elros said.
"MOM! Elros and Sirzechs are gonna have to wait. Akeno and I are going first!" Rias yelled.
"That's fine, dear. Should I call the rest of the peerage as well? I'm sure they'd like to see this," Venelana suggested.
"Sure," Rias said, stretching.
"What's going on?" Issei whispered to Elros as he stepped through the portal that was just opened.
"Akeno and Rias are going to have a bit of a training session," Elros said, petting Koneko as she came through.
"Who do you think's gonna win?"
"Ah. I have an idea, but I'll hold on to it until after," Elros said with a smirk.
"Both are extremely powerful. This could go either way," Xenovia said.
"Who do you think, though?" Issei asked.
"Mmm. I would say Akeno. Her control over her powers is similar to Elros, I think."
"Yeah, but Elros is a fucking freak of nature. Honestly, he probably shouldn't even exist in a paranormal world. You have to account for that," Issei suggested.
"That's true. Accounting for Elros's outlier freakishness, Akeno's control over her powers is second to none in this peerage," Xenovia reflected.
"I'm standing right here, you know."
"I know," Xenovia said in a matter-of-fact tone. The others laughed as Elros deadpanned.
"S-shouldn't we stop them?" Gasper asked nervously.
"No reason to fret, little buddy. They just want to show off a bit," Elros said, ruffling his hair.
"But what if they hurt each other?"
"I don't think they will. It's just a bit of fun. Like training, but not as serious," Elros said.
"ELROS!" Rias and Akeno suddenly yelled.
"Yes, sweethearts?"
"You're judging!"
"I… think Mrs. G would be a much better choice, no?"
"Sorry, dear - not in this case," Venelana giggled.
"Mr. G?!"
"Oh, no thank you," Zeoticus laughed.
"Zechs?"
"Not a chance, I'm afraid," he said with a slight smile.
"No," Grayfia sighed.
"I didn't even ask you!"
"You were about to."
"… Fine," Elros finally grumbled, taking a few steps forward. "Alright! On the red team, we have the Crimson Haired Ruin Princess a.k.a the Princess of Destruction a.k.a Ria a.k.a The Devil Princess a.k.a Princess Rias a.k.a the Fiery Redhead a.k.a Goddamn a.k.a Our Master-,"
"Sweetheart," Rias said with a deadly smile and blush. Elros winked at Akeno, who laughed at how red her best friend had turned.
"One of the loves of my life, the unimaginably beautiful Rias Gremory!" Elros declared.
"Finally," Rias sighed.
"AND IN THE… VIOLET CORNER!" Elros shouted, finally deciding to use her hair as a reference. "WE HAVE ONE OF THE OTHER LOVES OF MY LIFE, THE PRIESTESS OF THUNDER A.K.A THE ULTIMATE SADIST A.K.A THE SENSUAL SEDUCTRESS A.K.A HURT ME BABY, ONE MORE TIME A.K.A AKENO HIMEJIMA!"
"Oh, my gosh," Akeno whined, covering her face. Rias and Venelana giggled at her expense while Elros narrowly avoided a burst of lightning.
"Oh? Did I say something?" Elros wondered innocently.
"Mom, I think it'd be better if you ref'd. He's terrible at this," Rias sighed.
"Hey, I resent that!"
"Come on back, Elros dear. I'll take care of it," Venelana laughed as she took his spot. "Alright girls, I want a good, clean fight from both of you. You'll have a ten-minute limit. Whoever wins gets the grand prize!"
"What's the grand prize?" Akeno wondered.
"I'll leave you two to decide it afterward," Venelana said.
"Fine with me," the two beauties agreed competitively. As soon as they began, Akeno was quick on the attack. It was a ferocity Elros hadn't been privy to yet. She launched barrage after barrage of lightning at Rias, who narrowly managed to avoid most of them. Finally, her luck ran out and one hit her head on. Rias got her arms up to block it but was buffeted back considerably. Elros could see the hint of a smirk on her lips; she was loving it.
Looking at Akeno, he saw her tossing a ball of fire up and down in her right hand, waiting for Rias to do something.
"Not bad," Rias said, shaking some soot off her hair. She conjured up dark, softball sized balls of energy in her hands and launched them at Akeno. Akeno seemed unfazed and matched each with a fireball of similar size. The resulting explosions created an opaque smoke cloud that engulfed the two. A moment later, Akeno was launched out of it, holding her stomach.
"That hurt," she giggled, rubbing her stomach.
"No need to lie to protect my pride," Rias said, clearing the smoke.
The two flew furiously at each other, their punches and kicks almost a flurry. For each hit one landed, the other matched. Akeno ensconced a fist in a bolt of lightning and managed to land a powerful hit on Rias, sending her into a tree. As Rias recovered, she could taste some blood inside her cheek.
"Owww, that had to hurt," Issei cringed as Rias spat some out.
"Akeno's tough," Koneko said, placing Elros's other hand on her head.
"No kidding, kiddo. Rias is no joke either, though. I guess she has to keep her attacks weaker than usual," Elros mused.
"Same with Akeno. She's holding back. You can tell," Xenovia added.
-o-
They had gone in close again and locked their hands with each other, having a test of strength. Akeno smirked as she looked down slightly; she had a couple of inches on Rias.
"You've been training," she said with a tinkling laugh.
"I could say the same. Not inviting me?" Rias asked, pushing her back a bit.
"We all need some alone time now then, Princess Rias," Akeno said, pushing her back significantly.
"Mhm. Just watch me win. Then I'll get plenty of alone time with-," Rias began before she was quickly quieted with Akeno giving way to her and landing a knee on her stomach. Akeno followed up with a thundering blow to her back, sending her to the ground. She flew towards Rias at breakneck speed, but Rias managed to evade at the last second, slowly getting back on her feet.
"That hurt," she scowled.
"Save the gloating until after," Akeno said, launching several more fireballs at her. Rias narrowly avoided them but was soon caught with a bolt of lightning. Her hair a bit frizzled, she knew she had to turn up the power a bit. She summoned a larger ball of energy and hurled it at Akeno, who narrowly avoided it. Looking back, however, she saw a clearing where trees had been.
"Ugh. I'll have to be more careful," she grumbled to herself. She looked at Elros, who watched the two with interest.
'I wonder what he's thinking?' Akeno thought. Still, the thought was enough to make her next attack significantly stronger; Elros quickly put up a green shield in front of everyone to spare them the smoke and debris.
"Thank you, Elros dear," Venelana said.
"Not at all Mrs. G. Were you the one who trained Akeno?" Elros wondered.
"Mostly Grayfia and I, but the basics of her elemental magic is thanks to Zeo. What do you think?" Venelana asked.
"I'm really impressed. I haven't really gotten to see anyone else in action yet, but it's pretty telling how powerful the rest of the peerage is when you see Akeno. Her control really is second to none," Elros said.
"You really think so?" Issei asked, tilting his head here and there. He was more of a brute force kind of guy; control wasn't as important when obliteration was an option.
"Definitely. Look at how tight all her attacks are. She doesn't waste any movement. It all adds up to something," Elros said.
"What about Rias?" Issei asked.
"She's different. Rias has raw power. She can just destroy everything in her path. It's useful, but considering the structure of Devil fights, it doesn't seem as helpful. When her enemies are trying to kill her, though, then she can shine," Elros said.
"An astute observation," Sirzechs noted. "However, Rias still has a ways to go before she realizes her true strength."
"If she's going to be as tough as Mrs. G, I might need to reel back my teasing," Elros mused. "Or more likely, ramp it up so I can get it all in!"
"I think you'll be fine, dear," Venelana laughed. She watched with pride as Akeno and Rias gave the fight their all, evading here and launching an attack there. Neither was willing to give up any ground.
-o-
Akeno and Rias had locked into another test of strength, their hands tightly gripping the others. Akeno managed to push Rias back a couple of inches before Rias suddenly gave way. Pulling Akeno in, she managed to land a powerful knee across her midsection. She followed it up with a powerful blast that sent Akeno into a tree nearby.
Akeno was quick to recover in a stunning fashion. A blast of lightning thundered down on her, setting some dry grass ablaze. She launched the attack at Rias, who narrowly avoided it. A bit of lightning caught onto her, though, charring some of the fabric of her shirt.
Rias saw that Akeno had the ghost of a smile. Returning it, she conjured up some Demonic Power. Akeno refused to let her gather much; she followed up with strike after strike, forcing Rias back further. As Rias had gathered up enough power, she sent a massive ball of black energy at Akeno. She countered with a thunderous blast of lightning. The two spheres collided and exploded, catching both of them. As the smoke cleared, Elros saw that they were returning to their feet, their clothes near tatters and visibly bruised.
'They're both pretty tough. I've never really stopped to take a look at how strong the others are,' Elros thought. He made a mental note to watch them closely during the next Rating Game.
-o-
Akeno encircled a fist with lightning and was chasing after Rias, zapping her when she got the chance and otherwise striking. Rias was able to deflect most of the attacks, but at last Akeno landed a strong right on her jaw. Rias held on to her best friend, pulling her down with her. The careened into the ground, dusty and bruised. As they both got back up, Akeno went for another strike. Suddenly, Venelana called time.
"That's enough!"
With a sigh, Akeno let her powers subside and smiled, licking away a little trickle of blood. She saw Elros and Asia approach them, the latter emanating a soft, green glow. They thanked and hugged Asia, their eyes locked on Elros.
"What'd you think?" Rias asked.
"I'm impressed. With both of you. That was something else," he said.
"Wish we had some more time," Akeno mused.
"I think that was enough time to shine, dear. I'm proud of you both," Venelana said, beaming.
"Excellent work!" Zeo clapped.
"I never really watched you two fight it out like that, now that I think about it. I suppose that explains why you're our King and Queen," Kiba praised.
"Are you two OK?!" Gasper asked frantically.
"We're fine, Gasper," Akeno said, giving the vampire a hug.
"Are you two ready now?" Rias asked Elros.
"Elros, I need a moment to prepare. Take some time as well," Sirzechs said.
"Right on," Elros nodded.
-o-
"What? Luke?" Rias asked Venelana as she and Akeno got changed.
"Mhm. He called Zeo and asked if anything interesting was going on. Almost as though he knew the answer," Venelana said.
"I've noticed that. It's kind of creepy," Akeno said.
"Will his assistant be coming as well?" Rias asked.
"She will. As will Mio and Lisara. And Sona's peerage and family," Venelana said.
"Sounds like a party," Akeno said.
"Who do you think is gonna win, Mom?" Rias asked.
"It's difficult to say, dear. Neither Sirzechs or Elros will be allowed to use their full power, so it may be closer than it otherwise would be," Venelana said.
-o-
As Rias and Akeno peered into the glade, they saw that Elros was simply standing in the middle. Suddenly, they began to hear him chant.
'In brightest day, in blackest night,
No evil shall escape my sight,
Let those who worship evils might,
Beware my power, Green Lantern's Light!'
'In fearful day, in raging night,
With strong hearts full, our souls ignite.
When all seems lost in the War of Light,
Look to the stars, for hope burns bright!'
He erupted into a cyan light that shone from him like a bright lighthouse. Slowly, he began to reel it all in until it was only a soft, cyan glow - not indistinguishable, but not so bright as to draw attention.
"Beautiful," Akeno whispered.
"No kidding," Rias said, finally releasing the breath she had held.
His wings soon erupted from his back, a resplendent blue and gold flame that waved like rough waves in the ocean. The wings encircled him gently before releasing; he did it a few more times to get used to the feeling before taking flight.
'Mmm. Not bad, but I prefer my ring for flight,' Elros thought. He quickly set down and extinguished the flames from his back, before moving on to turn his right arm into a flaming piston. He grinned at the sight; it was a new and powerful weapon he could add to his arsenal - one that he wouldn't have had were it not for becoming a Devil.
'It hasn't even been that long, has it? Barely any time has passed and I already have a few girlfriends, a couple thousand years added to my life, and some kick ass powers. Still…'
He finally noticed their presence.
"Spying on me?" Elros asked with a laugh.
"A little," Rias said as they came up behind him. "Just wanted to see what you were up to."
"Everything alright?" Akeno asked.
"Yeah. Was just thinking," Elros said.
"About what?"
"How lucky I am to be here," he answered, toning his powers down a bit further. "All of this, I mean. How everything's changed in so little time. Not that I mind one bit. I've probably said it a million times, but it still feels pretty surreal."
"We're happy you're here," Akeno said with a bright smile, hugging him tightly. She kissed him on his neck, biting at the base.
"As am I," he said, taking one of her hands and bringing it to his lips. He did the same for Rias before grinning wide, back to his usual self. "But wow - you and Rias really went at it."
"Hmph. She's lucky I went easy on her," Rias said.
"Ha! You were sweating hard. You should be lucky that I went easy on you. Could've kicked your ass so much quicker," Akeno smirked.
"Oh yeah? You wanna go again?" Rias asked, conjuring up a small dark sphere in her hand.
"Bring it," Akeno said, conjuring some fire in hers.
"Whoa-oh-oh!" Elros quickly interjected, laughing at their behavior. He had hardly seen the two so competitive. "Now, now. You both won and lost, which means you each get a piece of me. Ah, I'm such a kindhearted soul, eh?"
"Not so quick, loverboy. You still have to beat Sirzechs," Rias said, pressing a finger to his lips. She giggled as Elros quickly took it his mouth before stealing a kiss.
"Is he about ready? I'm raring to go," Elros said excitedly.
"Mhm. Everyones prepared. Mom decided to invite the others and Sona's peerage as well. A few other people are gonna be there, too…" Rias trailed off.
"…A few more people? What does that mean?" Elros asked.
"You'll see," Rias sighed, running a hand through her hair.
"Something tells me Rias isn't too happy about it," Elros said.
"Mmm," Akeno hummed.
"Nor are you, apparently. Huh. Wonder who it could be?" Elros wondered.
"Well, she'll summon us while we wait. Until then, do you wanna go for a walk?" Rias asked.
"Is that code for sex?" Elros asked.
"Ugh, no. It means do you want to go for a walk with Akeno and me?" Rias groaned.
"Ha. Of course. Where to?"
"Well, my grandparents would like to meet with you," Rias said.
"Let's go, then," Elros said, wrapping his arms around the two. "What're your grandparents like, Rias?"
"Ugh. My grandmother is just like my mom and my grandfather is just like my dad. Grandparents aren't supposed to tease you so much, you know! Oh my gosh, every time we go see them…" Rias whined and trailed off, eliciting a laugh from Elros and Akeno.
"She's not kidding though. It's no wonder Rias's mom and grandma get along so well," Akeno giggled.
"Don't think they'll spare you this time either," Rias warned. Akeno's face fell; Elros was the only one laughing now.
-o-
"You're grand-Mrs. G? And grand-Mr. G?" Elros asked, aghast. If Rias hadn't told him, he wouldn't have believed it. Besides a few streaks of stark white going through their hair, the elder Gremory's had deep, crimson hair. Her grandfather wore a crimson robe with the Gremory crest, while her grandmother wore a beautiful, conservative crimson dress. Nonetheless, she reminded him a bit of Rias - although much more mature in terms of looks. She only looked as old as Venelana.
"Zachariah Gremory," her grandfather said with a kind smile.
"And Zelda," her grandmother said. Elros dutifully kissed her hand before taking a step back.
"Pleasure to meet you sir, lady," Elros said graciously. "Thank you for your hospitality."
"Not at all, dear. We're happy to have you here. Ah, hello Zeo, Venelana," Zelda said as her son and daughter-in-law appeared.
"Hello, mother, father. I see you've had a chance to meet Elros," Zeo said.
"The boy has a good bearing. Ria obviously made the right choice," Zelda said, turning her granddaughter red.
"Grandmother…" Rias whined.
"She doesn't like being teased about Elros," Venelana giggled.
"Oh, that's unfortunate sweetheart. We're going to keep doing it," Zelda laughed.
"Ok, but you can't leave Akeno out of this!"
"Bitch…" Akeno grumbled, elbowing Rias hard in her side.
"Elros, we wanted to let you know that everyone is here. Are you ready?" Zeo asked.
"Oh, hell yeah Mr. G. Or… Heaven yeah?" Elros wondered.
"Either/or," Zeo laughed, opening up a magical circle for them.
"Are you prepared for your battle, Elros?" Zelda asked.
"You bet, Mrs. GG!"
"Mrs. GG?" Zelda asked with a laugh.
"Mrs. Grand-Gremory!"
-o-
"LUCY! MAZE! WHAT'RE YOU DOING HERE?!" Elros exclaimed as he stepped out, surprised.
"Well when I heard that you were dueling the Gremory boy wonder, I just had to come visit!" Lucifer exclaimed, doing a complicated bro-hug with Elros.
"Good to see you so soon as well, Maze," Elros said, kissing her on the cheek.
"Mhm, likewise. We brought someone else," Maze said. Elros was surprised to see Titania there.
"Hello, Elros. I hope you don't mind me spectating," the fairy said with a beautiful smile. Elros found himself captivated by her but quickly recovered, giving her his trademark grin.
"Not at all, my lady. Happy to have you here - just surprised is all," Elros said.
"I'm surprised to see you here, Titania," Venelana said.
"Well, I've been so impressed by Elros here that I simply wanted to see him in action again. He's quite the fighter," she said sweetly. As her eyes fell on Rias and Akeno, they suddenly shivered.
'What was that?' they thought, surprised.
"She was visiting Lux so I thought might as well. I asked Michael to come along, but alas he has other things to focus on," Lucifer said.
"Hope he's close to figuring out where that dragon and her partner are," Elros grumbled.
"Perhaps. He has his ways. Zachariah, Zelda," Lucifer nodded.
"Hello, Luke. You look well," Zachariah said.
"Any better and it'd be a sin," Lucifer laughed. He poured some wine for himself and downed it heartily. "Forgive my manners. We just received a new shipment and it'd be a dereliction of duty if I didn't make sure everything was up to snuff."
"Actually, I'm pretty sure it's don't get high off your own supply," Elros said.
"And I'm pretty sure it's shut the fuck up," Lucifer grumbled, eliciting a laugh from Elros.
"Oh! It's Meme and Lisa! Mrs. G invited you two?" Elros asked. He narrowly avoided an attack from both of them.
"It's Lisara, asshole!" Lisara grumbled.
"Did you just call me Meme?!" Mio demanded.
"Is that not it…?" Elros asked Lucifer.
"Ah, Lisara Restall and Mio Naruse. Two exceptionally powerful Devils as well," Lucifer said. The two respectfully bowed to him.
"Mr. Star."
"I don't get it - you're a fucking asshole. Why do they respect you so much?" Elros asked.
"Beats me. I'll never understand it myself. I just go with the flow," Lucifer shrugged. "Ah, you may rise."
"Mr. Star, if -," Mio began before Lucifer quickly cut her off.
"I'm here for leisure today, Ms. Naruse. Business is conducted through Mazikeen and can wait until after," Lucifer said coolly. Mio gulped and nodded; Lisara bit her tongue.
'You can understand why I hardly visit here. They're all vultures. Appearances can be deceiving,' Lucifer communicated to Elros telepathically.
'Yeah, I can see that. Sucks for you. I'll be honest - it's nice here, but it's no Lux,' Elros communicated back. Lucifer shot him a grin before falling into an easy conversation with Titania.
"Lisara and Mio. Now I got it. Sorry," Elros said non-apologetically.
"Rias. I'm going to kill him," Mio growled.
"Sorry, sorry," Rias apologized lamely on Elros' behalf.
"Hey Lisara, Mio," Akeno said, hugging the two.
"Hey Akeno. Been a while," Mio said hugging her tightly.
"No kidding. How's everyone?" Akeno asked.
"Well, all things considered. How've you been?"
"Can't complain," Akeno said with a sly smirk as she looked at Elros. He grinned and kissed her lovingly, turning the two red-heads as red as their hair.
"Yeah, you haven't changed at all," Lisara sighed, seeing their tongues lash at each other as Elros's hand descended down her back.
"That's just untrue. First, she was the one being seductive. Now, it is I who does the seducing!" Elros declared.
"A normal guy in a normal relationship should not be saying that," Lisara grumbled.
"Hmph. Whatever. You're just jealous you can't get a girlfriend as hot as Akeno," Elros said dramatically, kissing Akeno's head.
"You should stop teasing them," Akeno giggled.
"Then I'll have to resume teasing you," Elros reminded her.
"Hmm. Good point. Continue teasing them," she laughed.
"Your wish, my command," Elros chuckled.
"Your boyfriends kind of an asshole, Rias, Akeno" Mio grumbled.
"Tell me about it," Rias sighed.
"Hey! You're supposed to be defending me!" Elros exclaimed.
"Calm down, sweetheart," Rias laughed, pinching his cheek.
"Speaking of boyfriends, though…" Akeno trailed off with a smirk. Mio and Lisara both turned a bright red while Elros broke into a wide grin.
"Ah-ha! I knew there must be someone? What're they like? Come on, ladies, no need to hold out on me! Gossip like I'm one of the girls. Have you made it home base yet? If not, do you want to practice with me?" Elros asked, slinging an arm around both of them.
"LIKE HELL!" They both exclaimed, punching him hard in the ribs. Elros doubled over in mock pain while Rias and Akeno giggled fondly.
"You better hope Sirzechs kills you, because if he doesn't, I will," Lisara growled.
"Your friends are scary, sweetheart. Such cruel devils," Elros grumbled as he hid behind Rias.
"Maybe you should stop teasing them," Rias suggested.
"Ha! Yeah right. Stick with something in the realm of possibility. Besides, I know you're loving it," Elros said cheerfully.
"True," Rias smirked.
"That's it! You're going down!" Mio exclaimed, launching an attack on him. The two redheads soon had Elros on the run, getting a workout in before the match began.
"Hey, babes," Elros grinned as Yubelluna and the others appeared. He kissed her, Bürent, and Marion, before hugging the others. Akeno and Rias held on to Lisara and Mio, barely suppressing their laughter.
"Hi. Ready?" Yubelluna asked.
"You bet. Get ready to watch your boyfriend show just how strong he is!" Elros exclaimed.
"We look forward to it," she laughed, caressing his cheek.
"Sona! Tsubaki! Hey!" Elros exclaimed as they appeared.
"Hey. Mrs. Gremory invited us," Sona said, waving at her peerage and parents, who had just appeared.
"This is turning into a party. Pressures on now. Hey Mr. Sitri, Mrs. Sitri" Elros said, slinging his arms around Sona and Tsubaki.
"Hello, Elros. We're looking forward to your fight," Lady Sitri said.
"You really think you can beat Sirzechs?" Serafall wondered.
"I've no idea, honestly. He's probably as strong as Yama, so if I can't beat him, I'm fucked," Elros said. Akeno, Rias, Sona, and Tsubaki shifted uncomfortably.
"And if he can't beat the boy wonder, then he certainly has no chance against me," Lucifer said with a dark chuckle.
"What about you, Luke? Care for a duel?" Sirzechs asked as he appeared with Grayfia.
"Afraid not. I don't enjoy fighting if I don't have to or am not obligated to. Mazikeen might be amenable, though," Lucifer suggested.
"Not today. Just got my nails done."
"That's unfortunate," Sirzechs said, still smiling. "In that case, shall we get down to it Elros?"
"Lets," Elros said, shifting into his Green Lantern uniform. As soon as the fight began, he lunged at Sirzechs. His right leg erupted into fire and caught the Great Satan right in the face, launching him back. Sirzechs quickly put a small fire on his hair out; to his surprise, it was singed.
"That's quite hot," he said, impressed. Elros didn't respond; he continued his attack, barraging Sirzechs with kicks and punches before he reared back to survey his damage. He was pleased to see that he did some damage, but Sirzechs didn't seem to troubled.
-o-
"He's doing better than I thought he would," Maze mused.
"Indeed? I surmised as much. The boy wonder is powerful, but Elros is as well. And with Constantine as his training partner, it's no wonder he's been able to make such quick process," Lucifer said.
"That fucking asshole…" Maze trailed off.
"Ha. It takes a special person to get along with him so well. It's fitting that Elros does, I suppose," Lucifer chuckled. Looking sideways, he saw that Rias, Akeno, Sona, and Tsubaki were looking uncomfortable towards him. "Ah Mazikeen, dear. It looks as though you've upset his loves."
"Looks about right," Maze said, looking at them. The four quickly looked away; even her look was deadly. "Can't say I'm too worried."
"Ha. Oh, that won't turn out well," Lucifer said cheerfully.
"Shut up," Mazikeen ordered.
"Tsk, tsk," he laughed.
-o-
Elros finally relented, frowning as he moved back a bit. He saw he had managed to scuff Sirzechs, but none of his attacks seemed to have done any lasting damage.
"I can see why you're number five now, Elros," Sirzechs praised. Elros just winked but offered no response otherwise. Suddenly, Elros shot his ring hand upward. Surprised, Sirzechs saw several little green bubbles erupt, flying all across the territory. As they went out of sight, however, the appeared to do nothing else. As he turned his attention back to Elros, he was caught with a strong, fiery right hook. As he recovered from the attack, he saw that he was pouring blood from his nose.
-o-
"Leaving himself open like that," Grayfia sighed.
"Go easy on him, dear," Venelana laughed.
"What do you think?" Tsubaki asked Rias.
"He's doing well, but Sirzechs hasn't really done much yet. It's not over yet," Rias said.
"Do you think Sirzechs would be able to do any damage? Remember when Elizaveta attacked him and it just went through?" Sona reminded her.
"Mmm… true. I think it'll depend on how strong Sirzechs attack is. Plus, I don't think Elros is going to try his luck with that every chance. He knows that Sirzechs has already seen some of his tricks," Rias said.
-o-
"Time to get serious, then," Sirzechs said to himself. He quickly took to the air, Elros on his tail. As Elros tailed him, Sirzechs sent out spheres of black energy at him. Elros met the first one right on with a green shield but quickly got out of the way as his construct began to break.
'His willpower is pretty strong,' Elros thought.
"I've had more experience," Sirzechs said with a smile as they were both level. Elros soon attacked again, right foot first. Sirzechs blocked him with one hand while catching the sword construct Elros followed up with his other. He grimaced as he saw the sword shift slightly into a saw and began rotating, cutting deep into his hand. He pushed Elros off and followed up with a sharp burst of black energy that grazed Elros.
As he looked to his side, he grimaced at the now-gone armor. The energy that Sirzechs conjured up was strong and nearly took a chunk from him; he was thankful that this was just a spar instead of an actual battle.
'Guess it's easy to see why people respect him so much,' Elros thought.
The two clashed with each other several times, refusing to give any ground. Slowly but surely, their bruises began to accumulate. Each felt a bit tender around their body. Suddenly, Elros shot down towards the ground. Sirzechs was hot on his tail but as he saw the others faces, he looked behind.
"Crap," he managed to get out before several large trees and boulders smashed into him. They were encircled by a thin layer of green; Elros's doing, no doubt. They ricocheted him like a pinball several times before he managed to break some and lessen his own speed. As he got to the ground, he sent out a massive burst of energy that destroyed the objects. As the dust cleared, he saw Elros wink at him.
"Clever. Very clever," Sirzechs chuckled, nursing his bruises. While banal objects, they were more than enough to do some damage considering how Elros reinforced them.
-o-
"I don't think I've seen him do that before," Xenovia mused.
"I think it's safe to assume he has more than a few tricks still left," Momo added.
"Go Elros!" Gasper cheered. Elros smiled sideways at the vampire and gave him a little wave. The girls couldn't help but giggle a bit; even in the fight, it seemed Elros was happy to break concentration for the little vampire.
-o-
Sirzechs suddenly teleported in front of Elros, catching him by surprise. While Elros was used to his own brand of travel, he wasn't completely adept at using Magic on the fly. He caught a hard elbow to the face, rocketing him back a good while. Sirzechs teleported again, but Elros wasn't in his original position. He was amused to see that Elros had created a wrecking ball construct that pulled him away even faster, forcing Sirzechs to keep teleporting to hone in on his position. In the split second that Sirzechs disappeared again, Elros let the fire of his wings encircle his body. As Sirzechs reappeared, he immediately halted his attack; as Ophis had found out, Elros's fire burned hot.
"I'm still curious as to how you're able to use that power," Sirzechs said.
"Keep me posted," was all Elros offered as he blew another fiery piston at Sirzechs. It was met with a wave of black energy, resulting in yet another small explosion. The two seemed to have the same idea; they had flown head first into the dust devil and collided with each other, using their fists and feet to pummel the other. As they ground to a halt, both were bleeding a bit from their lips.
"Pause for a second?" Elros suddenly asked.
"What is it?" Sirzechs asked.
"Lucy!" Elros shouted.
"Yes, very well!" Lucifer shouted back. Sirzechs felt a slight dimensional shift; he knew a barrier had been erected.
"Do you as you wish now! The land and we shall be safe," Lucifer said.
"This work?" Elros asked.
"Perfectly," Sirzechs said, smirking. Suddenly, his power erupted. Elros was blown back a bit, moderately surprised. He saw a black aura encircle the Satan; his demonic aura was doing its best to envelop everything around him.
-o-
"I hope Elros knows what he's doing," Rias said nervously.
"I'm sure he doesn't underestimate Sirzechs," Venelana said.
"Mr. Star? What do you think?" Mio asked.
"A good question, Ms. Naruse. We shall see, I think," Lucifer said.
-o-
Elros was zigzagging through the air, doing his best to escape the black pillars that were chasing after him. As he circled through the treelike, the pillars simply smashed through. They destroyed everything in their wake; the trees, boulders, gravel, even some of the constructs he sent at them.
'Mmm. So be it,' Elros thought. Suddenly, he stopped. The pillar split into multiples and shot right at him from different angles. Elros's body erupted into flame and he focused more on the Blue Ring. As the pillars hit him, it was a sharp burst of pain; no doubt it would leave a mark. Still, he was pleased to see that they went right through the fire, causing no lasting damage. Shifting back into his Lantern uniform, he could see Sirzechs was smiling at him.
"Well done. I was expecting my attack to do much more damage, but it appears that your fire is quite versatile," he said. With a wink, Elros raised his hand to the sky and repeated his Lantern oaths. He opened a teleportation circle underneath him and teleported himself as high as he could. As he ripped down through the clouds, he could see a vague speck in the form of Sirzechs.
Sirzechs eyes widened as he saw what Elros brought with him. It was a fiery ball construct, ensconced in a cyan barrier.
-o-
"This is what did against the Khaos Brigade," Rias whispered.
"The boy wonder will undoubtedly survive it, I assure you. Might do him a spot of hurt, though," Lucifer chuckled.
"Beautiful," Mihae whispered.
"You think so, Mihae? It's kinda scary," Xuelan said.
"Beautiful and scary," Isabela said.
"Uhh… we're safe, right Mr. Star?" Lisara asked.
"Assuredly, Ms. Restall," Lucifer said.
"Probably," Mazikeen said, laughing at the pale looks some of them gave her.
-o-
All the while, Titania had watched closely. She tracked every movement that Elros made; every attack he conjured; every counter, ever block. Everything. She watched with the intentness of a hawk, her eyes zipping all around.
'You would be so proud, Amarië' she thought with a sigh. She caressed a necklace she wore with her thumb, her eyes and mind trained on Elros.
-o-
Sirzechs threw up the strongest barrier he could but quickly saw that it began to shatter. Hairline fractures erupted, broken in when Elros collapsed with it head on. His body was surrounded by flames and he held onto Sirzechs, wrapping them both in several layers of chains.
"Damn it!" Elros heard Sirzechs roar as the asteroid like attack hit them. The world went white for what seemed like a lifetime before the attack settled. He had shifted back into his Cyan uniform, which was now torn. Sirzechs lay a few feet away, bleeding profusely. He looked at Elros and offered one more wink before passing out. Elros struggled to get to his feet but quickly fell forward. The last thing he recalled was a beautiful redhead catching him, a panicked look on her face.
-o-
"Is he alright?" Rias asked frantically as they rushed over. Titania held him gently, caressing his hair.
"He will be fine. I've healed him and your brother as well as I could. Elros won, I believe. He made it to his feet while Sirzechs was knocked out. Albeit for a short time," Titania said.
"That was quite a fight," Zeo said.
"It certainly was. I didn't think we'd see that attack again," Venelana said.
"It appears as though Sirzechs still has some training to do," Zelda added. Grayfia gently helped Sirzechs to his feet, slinging his arm around her.
"Forgive me," she heard him say. She only smiled at him in return.
"Wow! That was so cool!" Serafall said giddily.
"Scary," Issei and Asia said.
"Elros!" Gasper shouted worriedly.
"He'll be fine. Just needs rest. I will take him to his quarters," Titania offered.
"Yes. Please," Rias said, opening a portal for her.
-o-
After she laid him down, Titania caressed his cheek. Her finger traced down his neck, gently pulling away his shirt at his shoulders. She sighed as she traced the brand; it was warm.
"Be safe, Elros dear. Be careful in your fight. Please, don't do anything foolish. I…" she trailed off. She inhaled deeply, managing a small smile. Kissing his forehead and cheek tenderly, she took her leave.
-o-
"Rias? Mind if we talk to you for a sec?" Mio asked. She and Lisara both looked uncomfortable. Curious, Rias nodded.
"What do you think that's about?" Tsubaki asked.
"I'm not sure. It must be serious, though," Sona said.
"Maybe they need love advice," Akeno giggled.
"I'm sure that's not it," Sona sighed.
"You never know," Akeno said.
"Anyways…" Sona said, looking sideways at Luke. Akeno and Tsubaki just nodded.
-o-
"What was that about?" Sona asked as Rias came back, frowning.
"I'll tell you girls later. Mr. Star!" Rias shouted. She, Akeno, Sona, and Tsubaki had waited for the others to disperse before approaching Lucifer and Mazikeen.
"Ladies Gremory, Himejima, Shinra, and Sitri. I am in a hurry, unfortunately. What can I do for you?" Lucifer asked.
"It's about…" Rias trailed off. She wasn't even sure if Luke knew about it. If he didn't, would he tell Elros?
"What is it, young Gremory?"
"It…" Akeno began before grinding to a stop.
"I think you know, Mr. Star. I'm sure that she's told you," Rias said, looking at Maze.
"Oh, that. Yes, I am aware of your unannounced trip to Death Valley. What of it?"
"Elros. He's going to be really angry with us," Sona said, cutting to the chase. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest at the thought.
"Yes, I imagine he is. After all, he's one to keep secrets. That you all would keep one such as this from him… Well, it doesn't take a soothsayer to imagine how he'll react. Unfortunately, you all cannot count on my help in this matter. You made the decision - after some deliberation, no doubt - which means you'll have to find the solution," Luke said coolly.
"She said she'll tell him. During the Ruins of Connection," Rias said in a low voice.
"Will you really, Mazikeen?"
"Of course I will."
"Oh. Well, that's that I suppose," Luke said cheerfully.
"Can you-," Akeno began, but was immediately cut off.
"Ask her not to? Of course not. You all may petition her, but this doesn't involve me at all. Do what you wish. Or do not. It matters little. His disappointment will be yours to bear if she tells him or if you tell him. Mazikeen, stay for a moment to allow them to petition you," Luke said, stepping through a portal back to Lux. Maze groaned as she turned her attention to the four.
'If looks could kill,' she thought.
"Well? Hurry up, kids. I need to get back to work," Maze snapped.
"Look, I don't know what your problem is but obviously you don't approve of Elros and I," Rias said. She made sure to keep her voice measured; Maze was frightening.
"Wrong already, Princess. I don't care one way or the other. You're not the first, and probably not the last. What I don't approve of is you going behind his back," Maze said. Rias opened her mouth to speak but quickly shut it; what else could she say about that. Maze laughed.
"See? You don't even have a response to that. You know you fucked up. But you still won't tell him the truth because you know how he'll react, right?" Maze sneered.
"Why are you doing this? Really?" Sona asked.
"If I have to explain it, you're stupider than I thought. Look, you know what it'll take for me not to tell him," Maze said.
"You're asking us to…" Tsubaki trailed off.
"Yeah. You tell him. Or I will. Like I told Princess Red, she has until the Ruins. You girls are on the clock," Maze said. She turned to leave but was quickly stopped by Rias.
"I'm challenging you to a duel," Rias shouted. Maze laughed a long, hearty laugh before slowly stopping.
"You can't be serious," she said.
"I'm serious. Not an official duel, but a fight. If I win, you won't tell him anything," Rias said coldly.
"Rias," Akeno said, putting a hand on her shoulder. Looking at Mazikeen, she knew that she was a force to be reckoned with.
You're kidding," Maze said, a bit dumbfounded.
"I'm not. Do you accept?" Rias asked. She could feel her heart beating quickly; whether or not it was because she was afraid of fighting her or telling Elros or both at once, she couldn't place.
"Ha. Wow. You'd rather fight me than tell him the truth. You really are a piece of work, Gremory. You're not actually a princess, you know," Maze said coldly. Her eyes shot to the others before she finally smirked. "Fine. We'll make this four on one. If any of you manage to beat me, I won't tell Elros a thing. But, if I beat you, you tell him the same day. Agreed?"
"Deal," Akeno said.
"I agree," Sona added.
"As do I," Tsubaki nodded.
"There you have it. I'll let you know when," Maze said as she took her leave. As soon as she was out of sight, they let out a heavy sigh.
"I know," was all Rias had to say. Quickly, they left as well.
-o-
"Congrats on your win, sweetheart," Rias said, smiling as Elros stepped out of the shower. He kissed her before laying down on the bed, letting out a small groan.
"Thanks. Your brothers tough, though. I definitely wouldn't want to mess with him," he said.
"Still, you won. That's not something just anyone can say," Rias said, tapping on his chest. "Turn over for a second."
Elros did as she asked. Getting on top, she began to slowly and gently massage his back. She sighed as she saw all the scars; even now, the sight almost made her tear up.
"So much damage…" she whispered.
"Pitfalls of being a Lantern," Elros said somberly.
"You're a hero," Rias said firmly.
"This hero is going to blaspheme so hard, his head is going to explode. Ah, so this is where I die," Elros moaned in pleasure.
"Try not to get our bed to dirty, then," she whispered, working along his broad shoulders.
"So what'd you think of the fight? Wasn't I amazing?" Elros asked.
"So amazing," Rias said, taking her shirt and bra off. She leaned down and kissed each of the scars on his back before working on his shoulders. Elros groaned again as she elicited a small crack from him.
"That's… the spot," he sighed.
"I don't think I've ever seen you this beat up before," Rias said, noting the new bruises.
"I didn't think it'd have ended any other way, honestly. Your brother's a monster when it comes to fighting. If that's what your Powers are going to end up like, I think Crimson Ruin Princess works pretty well. I'm lucky that I was able to get my constructs up in time. One head-on attack without them or my fire or rings and I might not be able to enjoy this massage," Elros said. He let out a grunt of pain as she hit a particularly large bruise on his right clavicle. "FUCK!"
"Sorry!" Rias exclaimed.
"Ha. It's fine, sweetheart. I hope I'm alright before the next game," Elros grumbled.
"You'll be fine. None of the others are even a quarter as strong. You could probably sit those games out," Rias said.
"What do you know about the others? Besides Sona, I mean.
"Who do you want to know about? There's Seekvaira Agares, Sairaorg - my cousin, Diodora Astaroth, and Zephyrdor Glaysia-Labolas," Rias said.
"Who?"
"The elf guy," Rias said.
"Oh, him! Dudes a fuckin' asshole is all I know," Elros grumbled.
"Don't I know it," Rias sighed, recalling the comments he had made to her.
"Hmm… I know your cousin is pretty tough and that all I need to know about that. And Seekvaira wants partnerships with Bruce Wayne, Oliver Queen, and Lex Luthor. The elf got his ass kicked which tells me all I need to know about him. What about Diodora? What can you tell me about him?"
"He's the one I don't know much about either, actually. His older brother is a good friend of Sirzechs, but we never really interacted. He seems like a nice guy for a Devil, though," Rias said.
"Beware the nice ones," Elros said.
"You don't think you're nice?" Rias wondered.
"I'm the exception to the rule," Elros said.
"Mhm. Everyone thinks they are," Rias laughed, leaning back down on him. Elros smiled as she felt her press her breasts again his back. He carefully flipped around and rested his hands on her hips, taking in her stunning figure.
"You're perfect," he said.
"Thanks," Rias said, blushing.
"Absolutely perfect," he repeated, walking a finger up her body.
"Pervert," Rias giggled, leaning down to kiss him. She worked her way down her neck, pausing to suck at the base. She smirked inward as Elros ran a hand up her stomach and grabbed one of her breasts tightly before pinching her nipple.
"What does that make you?"
"Hot?" Rias offered, biting him gently.
"Don't I know it. Godammit, I'm one lucky bastard," Elros said, grinning like a schoolboy. He attempted to flip her over but groaned and fell to his side. "Ow, ow, ow, oh fuuuck. I think I took more damage than I thought."
"Are you alright?" Rias asked worriedly.
"Ugh, I think so. Nothing a little rest won't solve. Just need to be more careful in the future," Elros said. Rias snuggled close to him, bringing his head to her chest.
"Get some rest, alright?" Rias said softly, stroking his hair.
"I think that'd be best," Elros said, yawning. "Best. Pillow. Ever."
"Glad you think so. But you can play with my tits later. Sleep now, Elros," Rias said, her voice sterner.
"Your wish… my… command," Elros said, quickly drifting. Rias smiled as he dozed off. Her hand on the back of his head, she held him close to her chest, her lips buried in his tousled hair.
-o-
"How's he feeling?" Akeno asked quietly as she appeared out of a magic circle, Sona, and Tsubaki in tow.
"Nothing a bit of rest won't solve. He took some hard hits against Zechs," Rias said softly, still holding him close.
"Looks like it," Sona grimaced as she went around, noting the splotchy bruises. "I figured even Elros would have a hard time against Sirzechs."
"I suppose it's for the best neither of them went completely all out. If your brother really used his Powers of Destruction and Elros did that meteor thing he did against the Khaos Brigade, I'm not sure anyone of us would've made it out alive," Tsubaki said, sitting on the edge of the bed.
"Akeno, what're you doing?" Sona sighed. Akeno smirked as she took all her clothes off and carefully got into bed on the other side, her breasts pushing against Elros's back. Rias stifled a laugh as she saw Elros's smile unconsciously; she had a feeling he was dreaming something similar.
"What's it look like? Just making sure my boyfriend feels good when he wakes up," she giggled.
"You two want to join?" Rias asked.
"I'd prefer him being alone when he sees me naked for the first time," Sona said. Tsubaki nodded in agreement.
"Your call," Akeno said. She slipped an arm under his body and held on comfortably to his front, letting her hands run up and down his chest and stomach, tracing the scars she had come to adore. She gently kissed his neck before closing her eyes and quickly dozing off.
"You two going to stick around?" Rias whispered to Tsubaki and Sona.
"We'll let you and Akeno have him for the day. We'll take care of him later," Sona said with a smirk. She went to the headboard and kissed Elros's head, followed by Tsubaki.
"Later, then," Rias giggled, watching them go before closing her eyes and drifting off.
-o-
When he woke, Elros found himself being held tightly by Rias and Akeno. He smiled at his two loves; giving each a gentle kiss on their heads, he deftly disentangled himself and walked - rather, limped - over to the bathroom. Observing himself in the mirror, he saw the tremendous bruises and could feel his body aching.
"Sirzechs no joke. Going to have to train a lot harder if I want to beat him easily," Elros whispered to himself. He raised an arm and cringed at the pain, quickly lowering and massaging it. As he walked back into the bedroom, he saw Rias and Akeno just waking up, rubbing their eyes.
"Hey. Feeling better?" Rias asked, smiling as he crawled back into bed with them. He gave her a deep kiss before doing the same for Akeno. Akeno giggled as he kissed her on her chest and stomach before collapsing between the two.
"A bit. Still really sore," Elros sighed.
"Better you than us, then," Akeno laughed.
"Still… I wouldn't have this ring if I couldn't push through the pain. So, about my prize…" Elros said, grinning.
"Mhm? What do you want?" Akeno asked seductively.
"We promised. You can ask anything," Rias said, clicking her tongue before kissing him, biting his lip as she separated.
"I think you two know," Elros said with a smirk. Rias and Akeno smirked at each other; of course — they knew exactly what he wanted.
"Mmm, you sure you want to use it on that?" Rias asked, tracing the waistband of his sweats.
"Any suggestions? The more depraved, the better," Elros wondered.
"Not really. Nothing I would say no to, at least," Rias giggled.
"That makes me a pretty happy boyfriend, you know," Elros laughed.
"Happy to hear it, sweetheart," Rias said, kissing his temple.
"Then I'll go with what I have in mind," Elros smirked, bringing her on top. He bit the base of her neck, eliciting a moan of pleasure.
"Don't forget about me," Akeno said. She tilted Rias's head towards her. Rias felt her heart rate escalate as her best friend leaned in close and kissed her. She felt Akeno slip her tongue through her parted lips, gliding softly against her own.
'Oh, my gosh,' Rias thought as she tasted Akeno. She felt Elros run a hand down her back and smack her ass hard, earning a small whimper of pleasure. She leaned back up and brought Akeno in deeper. Her fingers ran down her side, gliding towards her pussy. Akeno squirmed happily as Rias traced her; she was already wet from kissing her. She took Rias to the bed, pinning her arms down as she happily licked her tongue and lips.
As they separated, Akeno trailed a long strand of saliva from each of their lips. The looked at each other in a way neither had before, stunned but overjoyed at the experience. Looking sideways, they smiled as they saw the lust and hunger in their lover's eyes. Hopping to Elros's either side, Akeno and Rias each took turns kissing him lovingly. Their tongues lashed at each other, their teeth clicking; all the while slowly working him out of the few clothes he wore. As Rias was on his lips, Akeno took his neck; and vice versa. Soon, Rias and Akeno began kissing him down his chest until they finally reached the spot. Giving him one more seductive look, they licked him up his shaft. Akeno reached the top first and quickly engulfed the entire length, feeling his head at the back of her throat. Elros groaned in pleasure, placing a hand on either of their heads and pushing them down.
"Come on, it's my turn!" Rias whined after a little while. Akeno giggled, flicking his head with her tongue before she let Rias have a taste. The redhead ecstatically went to work, vowing to outdo her best friend. She lovingly bobbed her head, swallowing what she could. She moved back up, focusing just on his head. Her tongue danced on it, eliciting his loudest groans yet. Akeno jumped back in and before he knew it, Rias and Akeno were kissing each other, Elros stuck between their warring tongues and lips. They both adjusted so that they could look at him and see the reactions they got while they continued blowing him to Mars.
Satisfied for the moment, Elros soon had Akeno on her back. He dove between her legs, eating her out with passion. Akeno screamed in pleasure but soon stopped; Rias had mounted her, her juices dripping onto Akeno's lips. Her best friend grinned and stuck her tongue out, licking Rias gently. Rias shivered in delight, her fingers entwined through Akeno's hair as she pressed her face against her pussy. Rias screamed in pleasure as Akeno worked her well.
Suddenly, Rias felt a hand around her neck. Elros pulled her back and kissed her upside down, his tongue quickly crashing against hers, sliding across her gums. She felt him rocking back and forth; and as Akeno screamed inside her, she knew exactly what he was up to. She felt his hand release her neck, tightly grabbing a breast while the other kept Akeno in place as he fucked her hard. Akeno went wilder as she ate her best friend out, one of her hands massaging her clit while the other kept her in place.
Akeno's legs helped pull Elros in deeper. With each thrust, she felt his love for her burn through. Her eyes trailed upwards, up Rias's beautiful, sweating body before they saw only the dark of her eyelids, the pleasure heightening. As Elros increased his speed, she let out another scream inside Rias, whose legs tightened a bit around her head. Akeno smirked inwards and lashed her tongue even more vigorously on her slit, lapping up all the juices.
"FUCK!" Rias screamed as she broke the kiss with Elros and fell back against him, tingling with pleasure. Elros happily acquiesced, roughly turned her legs towards him and entering. Rias lay on her back, Elros fucking her before Akeno mounted her. Rias did the same for her best friend, eating her out with love.
"Mmm," Akeno groaned, saliva dripping onto her breasts. "Can't believe it took us this long to try this."
Elros just smirked and pulled her in for a kiss. Akeno wriggled on Rias's face, making sure she was giving it her all while she sloppily kissed Elros. She leaned down slowly, kissing him on his the chest before making it to Rias's clit. Her tongue glided along and around it, tapping Elros's cock here and there.
"FUCk, FUCK, FUCK! FUCK ME HARDER! OH GOD!" Rias blasphemed. It wasn't long until she came for the first time. The pain in her head was nothing compared to the warmth in her body and the wet on it. She wrapped her arms around Akeno's waist and kept her in place as she got rougher, eating her out vigorously. She took pride in the moans she got from her best friend and boyfriend, both of whom were obviously enjoying themselves.
As Akeno got off, Elros stood up. He pulled Rias along with him, smacking her ass hard before turning her around. She felt a hand tightly grab her breasts before working its way to her neck. She felt his cock between her legs; but before he could do anything, she felt Akeno between them as well. Elros gently thrust back and forth, gliding along her slit past Akeno's lips on the other end. Looking down, Rias saw Akeno on her knees, fingering herself as she spilled more and more on her, her tongue tapping Elros.
Elros lifted one of her legs onto the bed. He guided Akeno back up with his other hand, back to Rias's lips. As the two beauties kissed each other again, Elros enjoyed the view before joining. They giggled and let him, taking turns to pass him their tongues. Akeno felt his fingers soon slip inside her and curve, searching for his favorite spot. It wasn't long until he brought her to climax; she tightened her legs, holding his hand in place as she broke the kiss, just wanting to enjoy the sensation of their bodies touching.
Putting his hands on either of their heads, he guides them down to their knees. Rias and Akeno giggled and gave him what he wanted. They kissed his cock up and down, their tongues dancing on the head and taking pride in the moans they received. Akeno gently pushed Rias out of the way before ensconcing it between her breasts. Tongue wagging out, she licked the tip every time it came to her lips.
"God fucking damn it," Elros groaned. He thrust back into her mouth, getting a happy reaction from her. Rias kissed his stomach, making sure to trace her lips and tongue across each scar before getting back to his lips. She pushed her breasts against him and hugged him tightly, her hands running through his hair as she took in the delightful taste. As they broke apart, Elros quickly went to her ear.
"I love you. So. Fucking. Much," he whispered passionately before biting her neck hard. Rias let out a delightful gasp and held him there, wanting him to leave his mark on her; something to let others know where they stood.
"I'm yours. All fucking yours. Please fuck me again, baby," she whispered back to him, her lips running along the scar on his face - one of her favorites. She felt Akeno guide him back inside her. Wrapping a leg around his waist, she grabbed his hair and pulled him back. She wanted to look him right in the eyes as he fucked her to climax again.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck. Give it to me! Give it all to me!" she screamed at him. Elros acquiesced; lifted her other leg high, stretching her until he saw her eyes roll from the pleasure of giving him all the access he wanted. His other hand searched for Akeno, bringing her lips between them. Akeno sucked on Rias's breasts, while Elros leaned in closer, kissing the lustful redhead but keeping eye contact. He smirked as he saw Rias's eyes roll back; even wider as he felt her gush on to him. Rias shuddered and made him stop. Elros withdrew, tilting her head up to kiss her again before turning his attention to Akeno. The Priestess of Thunder smirked as Elros pulled her close, his eyes full of passion as he worked his hands down to her waist.
"How do you want it?" Elros asked her quietly, spanking her hard.
"Rough," was all she whispered, giving him a smoldering look. Elros smirked and flipped her around, pushing her against the glass wall. Anyone on the other side would've had a fantastic view of Akeno's tits pressed up against the wall, wet with her sweat and saliva. They would've seen an arm around her neck, arching her backward as Elros hammered her hard from behind. They would've heard her carnal screams of pleasure, begging for more; they would've heard his hand smack hard against her ass, leaving a definite mark and turning it red and blue. They would've seen his hand go from her neck to her breasts, reaching across and squeezing one as he pulled her towards him and went deeper. They would've seen him pick her up, split and hold her legs wide while he pumped her, in and out like a train firing on all pistons.
Elros took her to the bed and stretched her legs far back, granting himself the access he wanted. He took it long and slow, making sure to reach as far as possible. With each thrust, Akeno saw her stomach bulge a bit. She screamed in pleasure as Elros ramped up his speed, showing no signs of stopping. It wasn't long until she came again. She quickly pushed him off as she squirted over him, screaming and shuddering until finally grinding to a halt, save for her heaving chest.
Sure that Rias was recovered, Elros crawled over her on the bed. He kissed her up her legs and stomach, sucking her breasts before gently kissing her lips again. Elros fell to her side and brought her to him. Wrapping his arms around her breasts and waist, her guided himself in and continued to fuck her. A free hand massaged her clit while his tongue found its way into her mouth. Rias let him guide her through the motions, simply letting him rock her this way and that, her breasts bouncing happily. Akeno crawled closer to her and broke their kiss, interjecting with her own tongue. Rias's fingers found their way inside her. The three held each other close, Rias getting fucked and Akeno getting fingered.
Finally, Elros had had enough. He released inside Rias and ground to a halt. Akeno giggled and quickly ducked down, wanting a taste for herself. Rias let out a final gasp as her best friend licked her up before traveling up her body and kissing her, swapping cum. All three of their tastes mingled together made for something indescribable. Rias turned her body towards Elros and hugged him tightly, gently rubbing against his cock which was still vibrating from the intense orgasm. His breathing was just as heavy. He hugged her back and brought Akeno on top of him.
"Sleep," Rias ordered the both of them. The two acquiesced and fell asleep quickly, happy in each other's arms.
-o-
When Rias woke up, she saw that Elros wasn't there. Scanning around, she saw him standing on the balcony, gazing at a fantastic view of the moon looming over the mountains. She softly approached him, wrapping her arms around his waist and kissing his back.
"Hey," Elros said, kissing her hand.
"Hi. What's up? Is everything ok?" Rias asked.
"How could it not be?" Elros asked with a grin. He picked her up and sat her on the balcony rail, kissing her with love before holding her close. Rias wrapped her legs around him, holding his head gently to her breasts.
"Mmm, dream come true?" Rias asked, giggling as she ruffled his hair.
"Oh, you've no idea. I can't wait to do that again. How're you feeling?" Elros asked.
"Sore and bruised," Rias laughed. She tilted his head up to look at her. "Mmm, you were so rough last night."
"You mind?" Elros asked.
"Not even a little. Felt really hot," Rias smirked, her hand tapping at the base of her neck. She remembered his hand wrapping around her neck, rearing her back and whispering loving words in her ear. "Fuck me like that again next time we get some one on one."
"With pleasure," Elros said, kissing the red mark on her neck. "Looks like I gave you a bright one."
"At least it'll let others know that I'm yours and that you're mine," Rias said.
Good thing you two are so slutty," Elros laughed, earning a sharp jab in the ribs.
"What was that, honey?" Rias asked, her voice laced with sweet poison.
"Good thing you two are so… sweet!" Elros exclaimed.
"Mhm, that's what I thought," she said, satisfied. She took his face in her hands and gently caressed his cheeks.
"I love you," Elros said, kissing her cheek.
"I love you more," Rias whispered.
"I love him more than you do," Akeno said, hugging Elros from behind.
"Yeah, right! I'm the one who slept with him first!" Rias exclaimed.
"You must be losing your mind. The first night, he and I slept together," Akeno reminded her.
"Ugh, you know what I mean," Rias groaned.
"So, how're you feeling?" Akeno asked, exploring his front. She could still see the bruises covering his body; the healing process this time would be slow.
"Well enough. Still a bit beat, though. Is our next match soon?" Elros asked, taking one of her hands and kissing it. He brought her forward and hugged her tight before leaning forward so that all three were touching.
"In the morning, by the looks of it," Rias said, checking her phone.
"Well, so long as it's not Sairaorg, I think we'll clear it easily," Elros said.
"Think Sairaorg is as strong as you?" Rias asked.
"I don't think so, but I know he's tough. He can hit like a train, so if I'm not careful and he knocks me on a bruise or something, it's going to leave a mark for sure. But if it's Diodora, I think we'll have it in the bag," Elros said.
"Speaking of the Game, though, I want you to hold back a bit," Rias said.
"What? Why?" Elros asked, surprised.
"I know how strong you are. But Rating Games are about us working together. The team can't solely just rely on you. Akeno and I are going to tank; Xenovia, Koneko, and Kiba are going to work on clearing; and Gasper and Asia will provide support. I want you to focus on defending Gasper and Asia. While they won't always able to count on you to defend them, I want them to get their bearings in a Rating Game without having to worry too much," Rias said.
"I'm backing Rias up on this. You might be called away on a mission when we have a Rating Game, so we all need to be able to take care of ourselves when you're away," Akeno added.
"The whole team is pretty strong as is, though," Elros said.
"So you are you, but you keep training hard," Rias reminded him.
"I suppose…" Elros trailed off.
"It's the same for us," Rias said. Elros could hear the finality in her voice. It was surprising; usually, it was all lovey-dovey between them, but when Rias got serious, she was something else.
"Your wish is my command. I'll keep Gasper and Koneko safe. Ugh, this is probably better for me, then," Elros grumbled, rubbing his side.
"Back to bed, babe," Rias giggled, sending everyone a text alerting them to the next Game.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone