The Forgotten Celestial (Hazbin hotel AU)

Chapter 18: A Commander's Last Smile

The world was spinning around me as I struggled to stay on my feet. **Vaggie’s spear** had pierced me deeply, and I could feel the life draining from my body. The battle around us continued, but it felt distant, like a storm I was no longer part of. I barely noticed the Exorcists and demons halting their fight as they stared at me, shocked.

The great **Commander Y/N**—stabbed and bleeding out, by the hand of someone I once called a friend.

Some of the Exorcists looked heartbroken. I could see it in their eyes. They knew me, even though I was always cold, distant. They understood why I had to be that way. I had never shown weakness, never allowed emotions to cloud my judgment. But now, it didn’t matter. **I was dying**, and the rules of Heaven no longer held any meaning.

I could hear **Adam** cursing loudly from somewhere in the chaos. He was furious, seeing his most trusted weapon, his most obedient commander, brought to her knees by a fallen Exorcist. But his anger was drowned out by the sudden appearance of **Lute**, her face pale with fear and grief as she rushed toward me.

"**Y/N!**" she cried out, her voice breaking as she knelt beside me. "W-what happened? Why are you—" Her words choked off as she saw the blood pouring from my wound, her eyes filling with tears.

For the first time in what felt like forever, I **smiled**. I knew it broke the rules. I wasn’t supposed to show emotions, to show weakness. But I didn’t care. Not anymore. I looked up at **Lute**, the tears streaming down her face, and I felt warmth in my chest, a softness I hadn’t felt since arriving in Heaven. She was my friend, someone I had watched grow up, and now, I was leaving her behind.

"**Shhh...**" I whispered, my voice weak. "Don’t cry, my dear Lute. Everything will be... okay." The lie tasted bitter, but I said it for her sake.

I could barely hold myself up now, my legs shaking, so I let myself fall into **Lute’s arms**, the blood from my wound staining her clothes. She held me tightly, her body trembling as she tried to stop the tears.

"Take care of yourself... and **Lily**," I whispered, my voice growing fainter. "Don’t fight with her too much, okay? Love each other... because I can’t take care of you two anymore."

Lute sobbed uncontrollably, her tears falling onto my face as she clutched me. "No... no, please... don’t leave me, Y/N! Don’t leave me and **Lily**. You’ve been like a sister to us... you’ve taught us everything... I can’t lose you now."

I looked at her, my vision blurring, but I could still see the pain etched into her face. "It’s okay, Lute," I whispered. "My duty... as your friend, as your big sister... is now signing off. And my duty... as your commander... is now over."

Lute sobbed harder, shaking her head in disbelief. "No! Don’t say that! You can’t leave us! **We need you**!"

I smiled weakly, feeling the last bit of strength leaving me. "Don’t cry, Lute. It doesn’t... look good on you..."

Lute looked at me, her face contorted in pain, and then she turned toward **Vaggie**, who stood nearby, still holding her spear. "YOU...!" Lute screamed, her voice filled with rage and heartbreak. "YOU **BITCH**! YOU KILLED HER!"

She moved to attack, her wings spreading as her body trembled with fury, but I reached out and grabbed her hand weakly. "Stop..." I whispered. "It’s okay... this is my fault, not hers."

Lute froze, looking down at me with wide, tear-filled eyes. "But she... she killed you!"

I shook my head slightly. "It’s not her fault, Lute... I betrayed them. I... I deserve this."

Lute sobbed again, but she didn’t move, her anger giving way to despair. She stood up, lifting me into her arms despite the blood that soaked through my clothes. "I can’t let you die," she said, her voice trembling with determination. "I won’t let you die."

She turned toward **Adam**, who had been watching the scene with shock and fury. "We need to retreat!" she shouted at him.

Adam’s eyes widened, his face twisting in disbelief. "No way, Lute! This is our fight! We can’t—"

"**NOW!**" Lute screamed, her voice booming with authority that Adam had never heard before. It was the first time she had ever defied him, and the shock on his face was evident. He hesitated, not sure how to respond.

Lute’s eyes burned with anger as she glared at him. "If you don’t retreat, she’ll die! **Sera** will never forgive you if Y/N dies because of this!"

The mention of **Sera’s** name seemed to jolt Adam, and he clenched his fists in frustration. He knew what Sera would do if she found out that Y/N, her precious girl, had died under his watch. Reluctantly, he turned to the other Exorcists and shouted, "Fall back! We’re retreating!"

As the Exorcists began to retreat, the demons stood still, watching in a mix of confusion and satisfaction. **Vaggie**, still holding her spear, looked conflicted. **Charlie** was still unconscious, but alive, thanks to the magic I had secretly used to protect her.

I felt the world fading around me as **Lute** spread her wings, ready to take me back to Heaven. She was moving quickly, desperate to save me, but I could feel the life slipping away.

**Lucifer** watched us from a distance, his expression unreadable, but there was something in his eyes—a sadness, perhaps? **Alastor**, too, stood watching, his usual grin gone, replaced by a quiet, somber gaze. He had protected me earlier, but now... now even he looked helpless.

As **Lute** lifted me into the air, speeding toward Heaven, I closed my eyes, the wind rushing past me. The weight of everything—the betrayal, the love I couldn’t show, the friendships I had lost—it all pressed down on me.

But most of all, I felt the pain of leaving them behind. **Leaving Lute and Lily. Leaving Charlie.**

And maybe, leaving **Lucifer and Alastor**, too.