Strike A Match ✓

FOURTEEN

Taehyung feels sort of empty whilst he listens to the prayers the next day.

He hopelessly stares in front of him, only managing to crack a tiny smile when he gets notified the same little kid from the other day actually got his puppy.

Furthermore it's mostly just the same things being asked for all over again, in all kinds of different contexts.

People praying for someone's health, or to be able to fix miscommunications or fights. People who pray for the strength to get them through the toughest times, or those who happily share about the best period of their lives.

Loss, grief, sadness, anger, love, happiness─ he has heard all of it.

Without looking he turns to recieve another small paper with a name written down on it, clasps his hands together and closes his eyes.

Dear God,

My husband is in very poor condition right now. I pray for his strength to get better again, and for my own to be able to help him get through this.

Thank you for always hearing our wishes.
Amen.

He gets back in line and continues with his job, proceeding to do the same thing over and over and over again.

Normally, this duty is one of his favourites.

Yet somehow today he just really isn't feeling it.

He mindlessly grabs onto another small note, not even picking up on the fact it was an entirely other colour or the name written down on it since he keeps on staring ahead of him.

Clasping his hands together with the paper between them, he expects it to be yet another prayer he has heard countless of times that day.

God..

It starts with a mere word and a deep chuckle, and Taehyung's eyes fly open at the speed of light because of the familiar, sultry voice. His heart roars to life and suddenly he wasn't feeling empty or down any longer.

It can't be.

Never in all the years I've lived and tortured have I ever even considered doing something as ridiculously lame, and for me sinful, as this.

Here I stand, staring up at an empty sky as the actual devil himself and sending up a prayer, or however the hell that works.

Listen here, I'm not praying. I'm not a beggar or lost soul who needs help to find their path in life.

My being is void of any soul at all and my destiny is simple; become the next ruler of Hell and continue to punish those who are deserving of it, to avenge those who have been wronged.

And that always used to be enough for me, up until now.

I'm the third most mighty being in the entire universe, and yet I've been feeling somewhat helpless, as of late.

Any interaction between Heaven and Hell is forbidden, as our rule states. There are exceptions, of course, such as the bare interplay during 'retrieving duty.'

But I fail to understand how it is that you've put one of your angels inside my head and in my heart, when you're the biggest hater of our interchange.

You reap what you sow and as the devil who manages to hand out free nightmares, I don't wonder how come I'm in Taehyung's head when it's clearly because of my own doings─ although I do fail to understand how he seems reciprocative of my actions and feelings since he is supposedly pure, innocent.

He is everything I am not.

So an angel, in my head, as the upcoming leader of Hell? That sounds like the stupidest and worst joke of the past few centuries and yet, I find myself hating you for not sending him down on duty here earlier.

I came to send you a warning.

Once I have him I will not be able to let him go, so be prepared to lose one of your best angels.

Casting him out and sending him to me will be the best thing you have ever done.

Taehyung reopens his eyes, face flushed the deepest crimson.

Did Jeongguk really just out them to the big man up there as if it wasn't obvious enough to him already?

He swallows dryly, taking rather slow steps towards a certain board. This time his eyes start searching from the bottom up, knowing he isn't anywhere near the top any longer.

Surprised is the last thing he is when he takes note of the fact that he's only five more downgrades away from the dead zone.

He gulps.