Helluva Boss X Reader (Season 1)

CHAPTER 95: SWEET INNOCENCE

BOOM!

The cherubs burst into the building, shoving Lyle's stretcher straight through the glass doors and smashing through a good chunk of the surrounding wall along with them. Shards of glass and debris scattered across the floor while, completely indifferent to the destruction, a cheerful melody continued playing through the mall speakers.

Lyle Lipton: Oh, Lord! Where are we now?! Let me perish!

Y/N barely paid attention to the old man. The music had caught her interest almost immediately.

She turned toward where she'd left her family, opening her mouth to ask about the melody, only to find their feline disguises lying abandoned on the floor.

The little girl blinked. She looked one way, then the other. There was no sign of them.

Confused, she approached the massive hole the cherubs had left behind after forcing Lyle through the entrance and peeked inside. Once she caught up with them on the other side, she carefully stepped around the pieces of glass and broken wall scattered across the floor.

Keenie: We're here to show you another thing life is worth living for!

The yellow cherub stretched an arm toward a crowd gathered a few feet ahead.

Dozens of human children shouted and laughed excitedly, far too distracted to have paid any attention to the massive crash the angels had caused on their way inside.

Keenie: Childhood wonderment!

Y/N followed the direction of her hand.

In front of all those children sat a fat old man with a white beard and a red suit in a huge chair. A little boy sat on one of his legs, practically bouncing with excitement as he talked to him.

The shouting, laughter, and all those voices blending together made Y/N instinctively take a step back. Her back bumped against the side of Lyle's bed.

She went stiff. The sound of so many children gathered in one place felt far too familiar.

But not like this.

Y/N looked back at them. Their laughter kept filling the hallway. Her brow furrowed slightly.

Behind her, the old man's voice lost its usual irritated edge for a moment.

Lyle Lipton: Why... look at those sweet, disease-ridden vermin. Th-Their joy comes from innocence, unspoiled by the burdens of adulthood... and their middle-class existence!

Lyle stared at them, growing more moved by the second.

Y/N looked back at the children.

They all watched the man in red with wide smiles and shining eyes, some of them even jumping just to get a better look at him.

It reminded her a little of the first time she'd seen Verosika surrounded by all those humans excited to meet her.

Lyle Lipton: Such simple joy they have. It is inspiring.

Y/N tilted her head slightly. Her gaze continued drifting through the crowd. There were so many smiles all together. More than she was used to seeing.

Lyle leaned closer to Collin, his eyes behind his glasses filled with gratitude.

Lyle Lipton: Thank you for showing me this.

Y/N turned toward him.

For a brief second, Lyle's grateful expression remained.

Then his eyes dropped to her. His smile faded. He pulled his arm closer to his body, creating as much space between them as the stretcher allowed.

Lyle Lipton: What're you looking at, orphan? Don't touch my bed!