DxD: Ascension - Redux

Chapter 51: Driving on a Rainbow

this arc is so stupid but I love it pls enjoy

Apex Manor (BGM: Bon Jovi - You Give Love a Bad Name)

Zach entered his closet and looked around at all the clothes on display. "Got a wide variety to work with, but this would be so much easier if I just knew what we'd be doing," he complained. He eyed a pair of black combat boots with roses embroidered on the sides. "Can never go wrong with Docs. Maybe we can build something around you beauties." He gestured toward the boots and they floated to his side. He telekinetically sifted through all his pants, quickly settling on a pair of ripped black jeans, which joined the boots in floating next to him. "The classics never go out of style." He hummed along to the music he was playing as he picked out a simple white t-shirt and a two-tone button-down shirt, half black and half burgundy, to complete the outfit. "Wait here," he instructed the floating clothes as he grabbed socks and a pair of underwear, then left the closet and went to shower.
While their owner was busy, the clothes recruited a pair of gloves to help them pick out accessories. The accessories- his daily trio of rings, a silver chain, a bundle of leather bracelets, and a watch with a simple black band- were laid out on a small tray right where Zach would find them.
A few minutes later, when Zach came out of the shower, he entered the closet with a towel over his head. "I can hear you guys moving," he said, drying his hair as the clothes tried to quickly get back to where he'd left them. Tossing the towel aside, he leaped into the air, his pants flying on mid-backflip. His shirts flew on immediately after. He then held out his arms and his accessories took their various places.
As Zach put on his boots, he noticed the remnant of Ophis slithering up to him. The little snake was still a baby, no doubt, but they had grown pretty fast. They had started small enough to wrap around his finger, but now they were at least the length of his forearm. Ophis looked up at him curiously before glowing with purple light and transforming into a black snake ring, flying onto Zach's finger.
"Sorry. Not tonight, little buddy," Zach apologized as he slipped the ring back off and Ophis returned to their normal form, coiled in his hand. "I'm not sure what the plan is, but I have a feeling you won't wanna be there for it."
Ophis hissed before returning to the floor and slithering back to their tank.
Zach quickly rolled up the sleeves of his outer shirt, put on his accessories, then grabbed all his things, pausing for a second and making a quick decision before taking his car keys and rushing to the garage.
Bikou, sitting at one of the mansion's many bars, watched as Zach wisped past him. "Where you headed all dressed up, big boy?" he taunted.
"Headed out for a date." Zach vaulted over the bar and picked out a bottle of expensive tequila. He poured the drink into a shot glass and downed it, making a disgusted face as it went down. "Gross."
"Ooh, a date? Who's the lucky lady? Or gentleman, I don't judge."
"Remember Sona?"
"The Sitri heiress? Hope you're taking her somewhere classy."
"She has the whole thing planned out, not me. Anyway, gotta head out. Vali is in charge while I'm out. Don't burn the house down or anything, I kinda like it here."
"Sure thing, kiddo. Have fun out there!" Bikou waved as Zach headed for the garage.
Waiting for Zach was his prized possession: a midnight black 1977 Porsche 911 Turbo with a matching leather interior, completely overhauled and modified to be one of the most advanced cars in either the human or supernatural worlds. At first glance, the car looked like an antique, but the inner workings were a technological and magical marvel.
"Hello, my dear," Zach said as he got into the driver's seat, the garage door opening automatically. The car roared to life. He pulled out of the garage and made his way over to Sona's house.

End BGM

Zach pulled up outside Sona's house and parked the car. He walked up to her front door and stopped to check his breath before knocking, a small bouquet of royal blue roses behind his back.
On his third knock, the door swung open. "I'm upstairs," Sona's voice called from inside. "Come in and meet me up here!"
"On my way," Zach called back, closing the door behind him and wisping up the stairwell. He poked his head into the open bedroom, one hand over his eyes. "Hi, Sona. You decent?"
Sona rolled her eyes, putting the finishing touches on her makeup. "Yes, Zach. I'm 'decent.' Come on in."
Zach entered the room fully, removing his hand from over his eyes. "Oh. Uh. Wow," he said, blinking a few times as his eyes fell on Sona.
"What? Does the outfit not look good?" Sona stood, looking down at herself. She'd chosen a black long-sleeved off-shoulder top, a white pleated skirt, and black tights. Accompanying the outfit were a pair of black ankle-length heeled boots.
"Um. Opposite." Zach blinked a few more times. "You look fantastic. Honestly, I just rarely see you wearing anything besides your school uniform, so I had to adjust."
"Same can be said for you." Sona gave Zach a once-over as she walked over to him. "You only usually wear your uniform or your combat gear. But I have to admit, you clean up nicely. I'm not quite sure what aesthetic you were looking for, but it definitely works for you." She straightened his collar. "You even did your hair. Impressive."
Zach's normally messy hair had indeed been somewhat tamed for the occasion. "Glad you like it," he said with a crooked grin. "Admittedly wasn't sure I could pull off the look, but I think I did okay."
"Don't worry, you're definitely pulling it off."
"Wording, Sona."
"Ha-ha. Very funny." Sona returned to her dresser, taking a selection of jewelry and putting it on. "What's behind your back?" she asked as she slipped on a couple of silver rings.
"Oh, right. I brought you these." Zach showed Sona the bouquet.
Sona's eyes widened as she saw the flowers' reflection. "Blue roses? Those are so rare nowadays, how'd you get them?" She turned around and took the flowers, smelling them. "They're beautiful. Thank you."
"Uh... Don't worry about how I got them." Zach briefly flashed back to "borrowing" the roses from the garden at Gremory Manor.
"Really going all out for me. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you actually wanted to be my boyfriend."
"Who says I don't?" Zach waved his hand and dark red crystal formed into a somewhat vase on Sona's dresser. "For the flowers."
"Thanks." Sona put the bouquet into the vase. "Well, you and Irina have been all over each other for a while now, and yet you still accepted when I asked you out. What's a girl to think?"
"The conclusion Irina and I have come to is that we can still do our thing, but we're not labeling ourselves and we aren't exclusive. So I'm free to see whomever I please. That, of course, being you in this case. So consider me yours for the night."
Sona gave him a small smile. "I'll be sure to."
"Speaking of tonight, what did you have planned?"
"Oh, not much. First things first, we're headed to Tokyo to meet with Rossweisse. She's at a bar up there right now, and we'll need her help to get back to your hometown."
Zach paused. "You mean New York? How? And why?"
"How: a rainbow. Why: I thought you might like it. Was I wrong?"
"Not at all, that sounds great. I'm just surprised." Zach put a hand on his hip. "What are we doing in the city?"
"What do you know about speakeasies?" Sona asked.
"Well... they're based on the idea of a hidden, illegal bar from the brief Prohibition era in American history. Usually not known to the general public, often have a secret entrance or password or both to enter. Why?"
"I found one that's been really popular lately. It looks really cool. You in?"
"You know we're both minors, right?"
Sona rolled her eyes. "Minors with magic, Zach."
"...Fair enough." Zach shrugged. "Not my first time sneaking into a bar. Consider me in."
"Then let's get going." Sona grabbed her purse. "If you're ready."
"To commit my second favorite crime? Always." Zach took Sona's hand as they walked out to the car.
"This thing looks antique. Can it handle the Bifrost?" Sona asked as they entered Zach's Porsche.
"Please apologize to the car, you're hurting her pride."
"I'm not apologizing to the car."
"You will if you don't want me hurtling off the side of the rainbow."
Sona sighed. "Fine. I'm sorry."
"Apology accepted on her behalf." Zach turned on the car. "So, Tokyo first?"
"Right. Should only be an hour's drive or so. Once we're there, Rossweisse can open a Bifrost bridge to get us to New York. Pass me your phone, I'll put in the address of the bar she's at."
"Sure thing." Zach handed over his phone.
"Out of curiosity, where'd the car come from? I haven't seen it before."
"I don't take it out much. But it was among the gifts Diodora Astaroth sent to Asia as a way to convince her to marry him."
"He gave a girl who doesn't know how to drive or care about cars an antique sports car?"
"He was a sheltered kid, or so Rias says. Never bothered to learn what normal people like or how to actually get someone to like him, so he just grabbed random expensive things or common date ideas and sent them to her," Zach explained as they began the drive to Tokyo.
"What else did she get?" Sona asked.
"Let's see... plenty of prepaid movie and dinner invites, a few cars aside from this one, plane tickets to all kinds of places, an actual plane, a luxury condo each in Tokyo and San Francisco, checks for comical amounts of money, and enough love letters to fill a small post office."
"A plane?"
"Yup. That, along with the condos and other cars, was repossessed by the Gremory family and then sold off to the highest bidder, as far as I know. I got to take this baby-" Zach patted the dashboard. "-and a few checks." Zach hit the gas hard as they turned onto a long, empty stretch of road. The engine roared as they sped down the street, straight past a duo of police officers sitting in their car, the elder one lazily scrolling on his phone.
"What the- hey, did you see that?" one of the cops asked the other.
"Huh? See what? I think I heard something, though."
"A car just went past, going at least 150 kilometers an hour! Should we go after them?"
"A hundred and- you're serious? Yes, we go after them! Start driving, rookie!"
"Y-yes sir!" the officer in the driver's seat turned on the siren and lights and took off after Zach and Sona.