(Grey Side)
When Grey and Cedric reappeared, they were at the Freelancers' base. The other members filed into the kitchen, some neutral, others disgruntled.
"So, what did you want to tell us?" Vicky asked.
"It better be fucking good," Benjamin asked, "I was making a suit, and I would like to get back to that."
"We ran into our demon 'friends' again, and we found out what they're after," Cedric said.
"And that would be?" Cherry asked.
"They're after reverse SOULs. One of them got one and literally stabbed it w/ his tongue and sucked the energy right out of it!" Cedric explained.
Everyone's expression became grave. Benjamin, Pete, and Oliver even gripped their chests. Benjamin had a look of apprehension, Pete had false fear, and Oliver worried.
"It's true," Grey backed up quietly, "That demon took a SOUL and drank it before casting it aside."
Everyone grew even soberer at that.
"Is there ANY good news?" Pete asked.
"Funny you should ask," Cedric said while beckoning for Grey to come forward, "The two of us found out that Grey has a unique power!"
"This better be good," Benjamin groaned.
Cherry and Oliver elbowed him from both sides.
Grey moved forward and took a deep breath. He concentrated on his SOUL and thought hard about it changing its trait to something else. It took a bit, but Grey felt his SOUL switch to orange, and he felt like he could do anything. At the same time, he summoned the weapon associated w/ this trait. Grey heard the others gasp, and he opened his eyes. His fists were glowing orange just as they had not too long ago.
"How the-?" Benjamin began.
"What the-?" Oliver started.
Vicky floated over to Grey and examined his hands.
"Th-this is unprecedented!" she said in a mystified tone, "How did this happen?"
"When we defeated our target, an orange wisp came out of his body and flew into him," Cedric explained.
"So, he can copy SOUL traits?"
"I guess so," Grey said.
"Hey, wait, I just noticed something. Grey isn't fucking stuttering anymore!" Cherry pointed out.
Everyone stared at Grey.
"What?" he asked, slightly worried.
"Ok, that's enough," Cedric said as he led Grey away.
"But-" Ash called.
"No buts. We are going to have a relaxing rest of the day together, and that's final," Cedric said as he and Grey went through their door.
Oliver slithered back over to the couch, Benjamin went back to his room, Pete went out the door, and Vicky hurriedly flew back over to her room.
"Wonder where this'll go," Ash said.
"Ditto, puta," Cherry replied.






...



For the rest of the day, Cedric and Grey spent their time reading their books. Once they finished the books, Cedric teleported them over to the library, they returned the books, the pair picked out some more, and they went back home. Eventually, bedtime came. That night, Grey dreamed of an angel. This angel looked like a bulkier version of the one he'd seen before. Unlike the first one, though, this one had pure green eyes, three soft-looking white spikes coming from his shoulders, and an empty-looking expression. This angel then proceeded to repeat everything that was said to the angel from Grey's previous vision. After the dream finished, Grey didn't dream of anything else for the rest of the night.







...



(Az. + As. Side)
Azrael and Asmodeus ended up back in their staple alleyway once the teleportation finished. After Asmodeus tore himself off of Azrael, his eyes sockets and mouth glew dark orange, and he breathed heavily.
"Asmodeus, are you alright?" Azrael asked, concerned.
Asmodeus paused for a bit before he grabbed Azrael's throat.
"Asmodeus! What are you doing?!" Azrael shouted.
Asmodeus raised his arm and began to charge up a dark orange blast.
"Asmodeus, please! It's me, your partner, Azrael!" Azrael shouted desperately.
Asmodeus cocked his head. His empty smile slowly changed into a frown, the dark orange faded from him, and he immediately let Azrael down. He turned away, as well, and he snuffed out his dark orange blast. Azrael vaguely noticed that the blood that usually dripped from Asmodeus' mouth had changed color when he used the FEAR power.
"Dear fucking Lord," Asmodeus said quietly, "What the FUCK got into me?!"
Azrael slowly approached him.
"Why did you attack me like that?" asked Azrael shakily.
"I have no idea came over me," Asmodeus said w/ his hands.
Azrael then looked around.
"Um, we should probably go somewhere else."
"Why?"
Asmodeus took his hands off his face and looked. There were people saying things, and some slowly approached the alley. Asmodeus immediately covered Azrael and transported them to a different alleyway.






...




For the rest of the day, Azrael and Asmodeus spent their time at the library. While Azrael checked out the books and read them, he tried to speak to Asmodeus multiple times. Sadly though, Asmodeus remained silent throughout the rest of the day. The most interesting that happened was that they spotted their patchwork and demon enemies at the library.
"Hey, Asmodeus, are you seeing this too?" Azrael asked once he invisibly spotted the pair.
Asmodeus remained silent.
"Asmodeus?"
Silence.
Asmodeus, why won't you speak to me? Azrael thought sadly.
At dinnertime, Azrael had some chicken and bread. As he munched on his dinner, Asmodeus silently floated w/o an expression. After a bit, Azrael put his meal down on the ground and stood.
"Ok, I can't take this anymore. Why the hell have you been ignoring me?!" Azrael shouted.
Asmodeus didn't respond. Azrael angrily walked over to Asmodeus and shook the floating specter violently.
"Why won't you talk to me?!" He shouted directly in Asmodeus' face.
Asmodeus pushed him back.
"Alright, fine, I'll talk to you!" Asmodeus finally said.
"Why have you been ignoring me all day?" Azrael asked indignantly.
"I haven't been ignoring you," Asmodeus replied, "I was afraid to speak to you again after I had attacked you the way I did."
Both sat in silence for a bit. When Azrael finished his dinner, he went over to Asmodeus and hugged him.
"PLEASE don't worry me like that again," Azrael said into Asmodeus' ether, "I'll admit, I was scared when you lost control earlier, but I understood that you weren't in control."
"But I could've killed you!" Asmodeus replied anxiously.
"But you didn't. While I might get scared when you lose control, that doesn't mean I don't want you to speak to me again."
"But..."
"No more buts, please..." Azrael said softly.
Asmodeus then noticed that Azrael had fallen asleep. He gently lowered Azrael onto the ground and quietly covered him.
I hope you can keep me under control this time, Asmodeus thought somberly. Like you, I don't wish for a repeat of last time. Except this time, I fear things might play out even worse than before...