Father Rodin drops in from Paradiso. He clutches his stomach as he falls to his knees. He senses someone is standing besides him. He looks over and see a badly injured Helios, with a busted jaw that manages to provide him with a smile. He extends his hand to Rodin.
"Hmph. I never thought I would see a smile down here."
"Trust me, it'll be your last," chuckles Helios.
He lifts Rodin up and supports him under his shoulders. Rodin notices Helios is no longer wearing his father garb.
"Could you help me get out of..."
Rodin indicates he wants to lose his robe, too. Helios nods as he gently slips Rodin out of his robe and hurls it to the ground.
"Can you walk?" Helios asks.
"I think so."
Knowing Rodin is too proud to ask for help, Helios struggles to carry Rodin as they wonder about Inferno together.
"Ha! Without the power of Paradiso the recovery process will be difficult."
"And painful," Rodin says as he grits his teeth. "What's the plan now?"
"Divide and conquer."
Rodin stops walking, "What?"
Helios releases Rodin and they stand face to face.
"We have to get our revenge, Rodin. They kicked us out! Their god is dead! And it was all for the sake of Man. We must take of Paradiso! It belongs to us. However, we must start with Inferno, then the Human World. When we have these two under our control we can finally rip Paradiso from its heavenly pedestal."
"Helios... if that is something that you want, you're gonna have to go without me," Rodin sighs heavily. "Man, I'm tired. I wanna leave all this behind me."
Helios is speechless.
"Don't worry, I have no interest in ruling anything. You can have all of this. I don't care."
"Then... where will you go?"
"...Human world doesn't seem too bad. The way you went on about it, might be a good place to start."
Helios takes a step back in astonishment.
"Then I guess," Helios begins though visibly upset. "This makes us no longer friends, but also not enemies."
"That's fair."
"And you will not interfere with my conquest. Or at least... I hope you wouldn't," Helios says sadly yet firm.
"If you don't interfere with my business, I won't with yours."
The two of them nods in agreement.
Helios gathers his emotions and gives Rodin one last smile before he turns to walk away.
"I thought you said I wouldn't see another one of those?" Rodin yells out to Helios.
Helios waves goodbye to Rodin without turning to look at him.
"Just wish me luck against the Demon King!" Helios yells back. "It's time for this place to get a new king of hell!"
"...Good luck, Helios!"
Rodin continues to watch Helios until he's finally out of sight. Rodin turns around and walks in the opposite direction.
Back to present day, Rodin's about to open the bar as Enzo impatiently waits outside.
"Where da hell have you been all goddamn day?! This joint is supposed ta be open! How am I supposed ta start my day without my three fingers of whiskey, ay?"
Rodin bypasses Enzo and opens the bar.
"It ain't like you got any friends. I'm the only one you got."
Rodin opens the door for Enzo.
"Thank you," he said begrudgingly as he waddles inside.
"You think so?"
YOU ARE READING
Last Rites
FanficBefore he was Rodin the Demonsmith he was onced called "Father". He did everything that was expected from him, he stayed loyal to Jubileus, and obtained great power. This power caused fear, jealousy, and hatred within Jubileus. This story is about t...
