Daughter Dearest

twenty-five

“Do you think any of the plans will work?” Natasha questioned Venus. 

They'd long since entered the hotel, now watching as everyone who could was fortifying the hotel, preparing for the impending battle. With crossed arms, Venus didn't look away from the scene before them. 

“I have faith.” She answered honestly. “I contacted Lucifer earlier, with questions. . . There is a treaty in place — he isn't allowed to step in unless a Hellborn is slain at the hands of an exorcist. . . He pulled some archived records for me and I discovered that the Hellborn include quite literally any creature born within the seven rings of Hell.” 

“He pulled records for you?” Natasha smirked. 

“Is that all you gathered, Natasha?” Venus asked, exasperated. 

“No — I heard you perfectly fine. I'll tell the others. . . But, the King of Hell pulled archived records for you. He likes you.” 

Venus sighed heavily, uncrossing her arms. “He was being helpful — he has no such feelings towards me. The insinuation itself is preposterous. . . And before you begin, do not suggest I have romantic feelings for him. He is Charlie's father and a friend.” 

Natasha placed her hands up in faux surrender, backing away from the goddess. “I wasn't going to say anything.”

Venus hummed as the woman walked away. A minute later, her ‘living world’ phone buzzed in her pocket and she pulled it out, looking away from the scene long enough to unlock her phone and read the message in full. 

Friends don't look at each other like that. 

Attached to the text was a picture of the two of them when Lucifer brought the letter over. There was nothing about it that particularly stood out — except for his cheeks being red, but they were always red. Maybe they were a little darker, or maybe it was the camera?

She didn't have time to decipher any differences. There was a war to win.

Both Vaggie and Charlie walked into the hotel the moment Venus put her phone away. They found Angel Dust, Nifty, Sir Pentious, and Husk all working on defenses for the hotel, alongside the group of heroes that were prepared as best they could be.

"Come along, let's put some effort into these fortifications." Sir Pentious said in the loud room. Between the sounds that resembled construction and the talking, it was hard to hear much.

"Yeah, fortify that. . . Well, look who decided to show up. We thought we were fightin' by ourselves." Angel pulled Husk and Sir Pentious into his sides.

"You're. . . You're still here?" Vaggie questioned, staring at the group, a small smile appearing on her face as Venus joined the group, leaning against the railing.

"You doubted us?" She called down, a genuine smile on her face as her eyes drifted to the assembled groups.

"What? Do you think we're a bunch of pusssssies?" Sir Pentious questioned.

"I just got used to you guys." Husk scoffed. "I ain't finding no new drinking buddies."

"I've named all the stains on the carpet." Niffty appeared and giggled, pointing to one of the stains. "That one's Fred."

"Well, looks like we have a lot of work to do." Charlie declared.

“I'll fill you both in on what I know so far.” Venus called down to the Princess and the former exorcist angel. “Trust me, you'll want to hear this.” 

★†★

Venus stood quietly amongst the team she so lovingly called her family. The weight of the looming battle seemingly settled on her shoulders like a ton of bricks. 

She exhaled softly, watching everyone else fall into last minute preparations. 

Sir Pentious was slithering around wearing a victorian-style British army uniform. 

Charlie made the mistake of handing Niffty a knife with the words: “If you see an angel, stab it!” 

The small demon misinterpreted the statement and began running towards Angel Dust, yelling ‘stab’ over again. 

He climbed off the pole, doing a flip off once Niffty had run off to find other things to stab. 

Angel went to stand by Vaggie, Charlie, and Sir Pentious. Venus would soon join them if she could, but first, she needed to address her family. 

She took a few steps forward and turned to face them. “According to Vaggie, there are twenty-four hours until the fight will be on the hotel's doorstep. . . I need you to help the others train, which is something I hate to ask of you. . . But —”

“But nothing. We'll help. That's what we're here for.” Bucky stepped forward and Venus almost broke down right there. 

“Let's kick some angel ass!” Pietro called from the back. 
Venus laughed. She had forgotten he was there — the whole time, he was either in his hotel room, running around the hotel, or exploring every nook and cranny of the Pride ring. She'd barely seen him.

The group spread apart soon after, miniature group teachings going on with the different heroes. Venus stepped back, joining her friend's sides. 

“What do you think, Venus?” Charlie asked, grabbing the goddesses attention from where she was watching Clint and Natasha show the cannibals proper weapon formation. 

“I think we need to have faith. You're worried, I understand. . . But you not only have an arsenal of angelic weapons, but also Midgard's mightiest heroes. . . You have, perhaps, the best army in all of the universe.” Venus admitted. 

Charlie smiled with tears welling in her eyes, throwing her arms around the Asgardian Princess. Venus returned it immediately, tightening her grasp as if it would be the last time Charlie ever did that. For all she knew, it could be. 

“We can do this, Charlie, I know it. . . Now, I need one of you to go tell Loki that I will be dropping the teams disguises, not only so they will properly fit their respective gear, but also so I can be at full strength.”

“I will do it for you misssss Venus!” Sir Pentious declared, saluting, before slithering off to find the long haired prince. 

She thanked him and then released Charlie, tears of her own in her eyes. The two of them laughed lightly before wiping them away. 

“Thank you for everything you've done for all of us.” 

“There's no need to thank me. . . I'd do it all again.” Venus replied, making eye contact with Loki from over Charlie's shoulder. 

He nodded and with a wave of her hand, the disguises on her family melted away, revealing who they truly were. Yet the teaching didn't halt. Leave it to her family to keep carrying on.