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With Pepper

It wasn't odd that Pepper was in what one could say his home. It was what he was doing that was peculiar. The strange child with black hair with heavy blond chunks streaking it, red skin with weird blue rock like scaling on him not to mention the bones that covered his shoulders...but he was now struggling with a bottle of white glue trying and failing to not make a mess as his clawed fingers pierced several holes into the container. The white fluid...leaked out his nose scrunched in annoyance as he took the bottle and mashed it onto something he had on the table once satisfied that he had covered it..and a large amount of the table in glue he tossed the bottle onto the table and retried the item he had successfully covered in the desired substance. He then with careful precision took said item and placed it on the middle of his forehead pressing hard with his thumb to make sure it adhered there. Once satisfied he released it quite pleased with himself, the now third eye child having glued the googly eye onto his forehead now went about trying to find some way to get the glue off his fingers.

Luthor was in a bit of a panic, things weren't going well if you asked him. He had told Vampy about the two wishes that he had granted the one he'd done for his Auntie when he was learning how to use his powers along with the wish he granted for Pepper but... then there was the wish for Adriel that he had thought had failed. Not long ago though the contract had gone into effect for some reason.

He just hoped that Vampy didn't find out about the wish, more importantly he hoped that if somehow he found out about it he didn't learn that it was granted before they had their talk. He wanted to find his Daddy to talk with him at first but decided it would be a bad idea to talk with him about it since he was against Luthor using his power. He was half tempted to talk to his Auntie but didn't want her to find out that Vampy wanted to be his new teacher so there was only one person he could go to. Pepper who was rather good at listening even if he weren't as good at offering up solutions as he was at mauling techs.

Pepper sniffed at the glue that was covering his fingers. Ick. It smelt bad. Still wiping the glue covered fingers on his shorts only resulted on bits of debris covering his fingers. He then...after a moment hesitation licked his finger. The expression on his face could only describe utter horror. Like sucking on a lemon his face twisted.

"Yeuck..." He complained as he looked at his fingers and then leaned forward to lick them again despite knowing what they tasted like.

Luthor was starring at his friend eyes wide wondering if he'd tracked down the wrong person to talk to. He had a googly eye stuck to his forehead and he was eating... was that glue? He blinked a couple times and lifted a hand to scratch at the back of his head, "Ahh... Pepper?"

Pepper's golden gaze widened when he heard Luthor's voice smiling his fangs smile he scrambled up onto four and then moved over to Luthor in which he wrapped his arms around his leg.

"Luthor!" he called out looking up at him the third eye slid a bit..the glue wasn't dry...and their certainly was a bit too much there.

The white haired boy gave a squeak of surprise before looking down at his friend. He gave a smile as he moved a hand to ruffle his hair, "You have... something stuck on our forehead Pepper." He told his friend, finding it a little unnerving to have the plastic eye starring at him. Sure it was fake but it was still a little creepy somehow.

He nodded his head enthused that Luthor has noticed. "Yes! Need to be wrath!" he said with a knowledgeable nod of his head. Since all the wrath children he had come across all had three eyes he only figured this was the way he could be related to them somehow.He gave a growling sound that was playful as he nipped at Luthor's leg.

Luthor tilted his head to the side wondering why he needed to be wrath... he was about to ask when he got nipped, "Ah! Pepper!" He squeaked, giving his friend a shove to get him back for the nipping.

He gave another playful growl, he had missed Luthor it seemed his chasing techs had made him too busy to be with his friend. He pounced the boy with all his strength. Sticky fingers latching onto his clothe as he laughed.
"I gots you!" He cried out happily.

"Ah... wait..." He squeaked, flailing his arms as he tired to escape Pepper's sticky, grasping hands. Best he was able to do was land in a heap as he got pounced and gave as oft groan, "Un... yes, it seems you got me..."

Pleased with himself Pepper sat on the boys chest and looked down at him. It was that exact moment the third eye decided to slide....and with plop land on Luthor's shirt. Pepper looked at the eye and he diligently picked it up and placed it on his forehead again. But the stickiness was...losing its effectiveness and it once against plopped onto Luthor's chest. Pepper...looked crushed. It was an unusual expression on his face, like a mixture of anger and sadness combined into one heart wrenching expression. His little face dipped down to stare at Luthor's chest as if he couldn't meet the boy's gaze. In fact he was trying to hide the fact he was nearly about to cry.

Luthor gave a jolt as the other boy's eye landed on his chest not once but twice. Again he knew it wasn't a real eye but it was just... disturbing. He blinked in surprise when he went from his normal behavior to looking... upset? He tilted his head to the side before he lifting his arms up to wrap them around Pepper to give him a snuggle, "Are you alright?" He murmured, sounding worried.

Pepper shook his head violently, apparently he was upset though he wasn't speaking as he didn't trust himself not to burst into tears. He picked up the third eye fiddling with it in his hands before anger overwhelmed him and he pierced it with a claw. He then scrambled to get it off his claw before he gave up and continued to sit on Luthor. Loud sniffling was heard as the boy took ragged gasps trying to calm himself down. It was hard to figure what it was that set him off.

Luthor gave him another hug before he reached down to take the eye from him, "I can help if you want." He murmured, the would need to find some better glue. Little kids glue wasn't going to really help enough to get it to stick to Pepper's forehead.

Pepper batted the eye away from Luthor before he threw himself around the boy sobs filling the air around them. Apparently there was something more than just an eye that refused to stick on his forehead that was bothering him. In essence if one looked at him...he looked like he hadn't slept in weeks, dark circles under his eyes seemed stained permanently there his form was trembling as if he was on his very last nerve.

"Why alone?" He demanded sobbing into Luthor's chest. "You got daddy...why Pepper alone?" He continued his little wails building up into shrieks.

Luthor shook his head as he snuggled his friend, nuzzling against his hair, "Your not alone Pepper. You have me! And Daddy loves you very much too." He assured him, stroking his hand over Pepper's back in what he hoped was a manner that would help to calm him down. He didn't like seeing his friend crying it was... strange, he should be laughing, growling, biting... not crying.

Pepper shook his head again, "Not...daddy...he your daddy...not mine..." he corrected as he apparently knew this...it was strange for him to actually pay attention to things like this.
"Luthor friend..not brother.." he stated again before he pressed his face into Luthor's shirt. Unfortunately the bony protrusions that protected his shoulders proved to crush against Luthor as well.

Luthor gave a flinch at that, "I... see." He murmured, as the other hid against him, "I... guess your friend. We don't really look like brothers do we?" He gave him a bit of a smile though it was a little forced, "Still... you have us even if we aren't your family."

Pepper nodded his head even as he sniffled a bit more. Sitting up he used the back of his hand to wipe his nose he looked...haggard...for a toddler that was a rather scary fact. apparently he didn't sleep...ever...of at least tried not to. The fact he was still moving was a pure miracle.

"Your my best friend Pepper so if you need me I will always be here, alright? No matter what." He reached a hand out to lay it against his friend's cheek so he could look him over. He looked terrible, "It hasn't helped has it? Being big... you still don't look like you sleep."

Pepper leaned into Luthor's hand unconsciously he was tired...as he always was even if he seemed to have endless energy it was perhaps only to those he really trusted that he could show how toward he was. He shook his head slowly at his comment about not sleeping.
"No...nightmares still come...I fight them better...but still come.." he said with a terrible sigh.

"I'm sorry... I wish it could have helped you more." He murmured, feeling a bit guilty. It hadn't help and on top of that he had to take it away or else Vampy was going to do something about it. He didn't like the man, didn't trust him... as such he didn't want for it to be Vampy that took away from Pepper what Luthor had given him.

Pepper only half smiled as he leaned into Luthor more. "no...Pepper have fun big...scare techs good...just...no help with nightmares.." he stated with a heavy breath He seemed to be better now that he had let ouf some of his pent of frustration.

"Well pretty soon you will be big enough on your own that you won't need help from me anymore to go around mauling people effectively." He said with a grin.

He nodded his head slowly before he yawned. "Pepper want know. Why first kiss?" He asked wondering back for a moment why Luthor had asked for a kiss as payment to grant him the ability to grow . It was a wonderful thing..even if it hurt...but he had gotten use to the pain by now...as he experienced it every night.

Luthor blinked a couple times then gave a smile, "Well they seem really important in stories." He murmured to his friend, "And when I learned how to use the power she traded a hug so..." He didn't want to admit that it was also curiosity about kisses. They seemed important to people in stories, television, and movies and he wanted to know why that was.
"I hope it wasn't a terrible price."

He shook his head as he himself didn't think it was a terrible price..he just wasn't sure why it had been the price in the first place. Giving a grunt he quickly moved off of Luthor, it had only taken moments for the boy's body to shift and change and grow larger the pop and crack of bones filled the air until the teenager Pepper rolled his shoulders allowing his body to relax and settle."Pain no bother now." He replied his voice was low it was mildly disturbing how the change seemed to hardly effect him at all.

Luthor gave a wince at the sounds Pepper's form made before he reached out a hand to pat it on Pepper's now larger shoulder, "You look pretty cool like that." He told him then gave a bit of a smile. He would let Pepper run around like this tonight and he would go and talk to Vampy to see how he was supposed to break a contract tomorrow since... he had no idea.

Pepper grinned, it was a smile that held a hint of weariness as he gathered Luthor into his arms and held him like that. His head leaning against his, he was like a gangly puppet, so awkward with his new size and yet with all his practice...he couldn't shake off the child in him. He lay his head on Luthor's head a long time before replying.

"Yes..I do." He said with a hoarse laugh. "you see deer girl ?" He asked as he hadn't caught sight of that strange figure in a long time.

Luthor smiled, snuggling up against him as the much bigger Pepper gathered him close. It was nice to see his friend in this form, he seemed like... a big guy who could do anything! Though knowing that he still couldn't sleep made him worry as did the fact that he had yet to change like Luthor himself had. He was still so tiny during the day time... he looked up at him then gave a shake of his head "No, not since that first day. I wonder where she went to."

Pepper shrugged before he went to get up staggering a bit from his exhaustion before he went to all fours and gestured for Luthor to get on his back."Let chase white coats.." He stated as he wanted to forget his earlier breakdown and exchange it for fun.

Luthor gave a giggle at the idea, "Sure thing. I know of of them that you should chase after." He told his friend as he climbed up on his back and gave it a patting, "If we see her you should scare her the most." He didn't like the mean lady, he was one of the ones that was meanest to his Daddy. It was something about his old job though Luthor had no idea what that was.

Bad Dreams

Almas was... lost in the past, uncomprehending at the moment that he was surrounded by a dream world and not a real one. It was all the same, the same prison, the same cruel guards that said they were trying to save him from himself.

"Please... its not like that anymore... he doesn't care about me! I am trying to do the same!" He called after them, straining against the to tight shackles that held his wrists, the more he struggle the more they cut into his wrists, more wounds to go along with the ones that marred his body from today's attempt at cleansing.

"You have to listen to me!" His voice rose higher, nearly begging his 'brothers' to come back, to postpone what he knew was coming. They were going to take his wings... he tucked the beautiful blue and white appendages behind his back as though trying to protect them, "please... don't take my wings..."

Pepper's dream self...suddenly heard something, he looked up and there...beyond the darkness lay a bright world. He scrambled onto his feet the wraiths around him moved too and fro hands reaching out to claim him without a pause he dashed forward he had to get to the bright world. Something was different this time...and he was going to go find out. Beat sitting in the dark with the shadows trying to claim him. He dodged past the dark shadows and suddenly seemed to pass through a thin film and he was blinded by sunlight. He gave a sharp hiss, his senses were barreled over...from a place devoid of light and atmosphere...suddenly he..was somewhere he had never seen before. He felt extremely out of place but he didn't look behind him the wraiths seemed to have hesitated upon entering this bright world...and he was going to take this chance to get away from them.

He galloped, it was the best way to describe how he ran on all fours until he heard a very familiar voice. There were others here...but they didn't seem to even pay him any mind or notice he was there...they were...all angels...bright and beautiful he stood out like a sore thumb. Still he turned his gaze.. towards where he heard the voice. He didn't know where it came from but...he soon went about tracking it down. When he found the source he looked bewildered. "Luthor..daddy?" He said peering up at the fallen...no angel before him.

Almas's eyes turned toward the small boy before him, both of them able to focus in the dream world, both a beautiful color of blue. He tilted his head to the side looking almost confused, "Who...?" He murmured, his mind fumbling before it seemed to finally realize who was standing before him, "Pepper? What are... you doing here?" How did Pepper get to Heaven? The idea that things were very mixed up, that Pepper shouldn't exist in the time his dream was set in didn't occur to his fever addled mind.

Pepper looked behind his shoulder wondering just the same thing. This...sounded like Luthor's father...but he was much more pretty ... "I run from nightmare.." He answered honestly as he was checking around himself to see if they had followed him finally. "Why chained?" He inquired next blinking his golden eyes up at him.

Almas lowered his head, "I am... being punished." He murmured quietly, his wings trembling behind him, "I made a foolish mistake and they won't listen when I say I am sorry." He couldn't bring himself to open his eyes, he knew they would be back soon, once they got the tools that were needed. It wouldn't be a traditional removal because Ashtad was currently busy with other matters. It would be much worse.

Pepper tilted his head wondering why the pretty man was being punished, "...punished?" he said after a moment before he turned his head growling slightly as he heard people advancing.

"No punish...I save..." though the figures looked just as pretty as Almas he knew they were nightmares...the strange same beings cast a ghastly aura around themselves that h himself could sense...he was accustomed to that feeling after all.

He turned around...before he had given up trying to fight them...but...this ws different he had been alone before..now he had someone he could try and save.

Almas gave a gasping sound, jerking his head up, "No! Pepper you must get away... I don't them to hurt you." He said, sounding frantic as he tugged against the chains once more. He couldn't le them get Pepper, he was such a good boy... but they could kill him out of hand just because he was part demon.

The nightmare angels approached carrying in their hands a set of cruel tools used to break and cut through bone, muscle, and flesh. A punishment that would be severe but was used when some angels were tainted by something truly evil... love for a demon, a male demon at that, was a crime severe enough for this sort of punishment.

Seeing them advance with such tools Pepper snarled he backed up a couple paces to align himself in front of Almas. Every part of his body screamed tense he looked about ready to try and maul one of them. "no...they can hurts me...but not you. Luthor need you." He spat the warning hiss at the approaching wraithes.

The angels didn't seem to notice Pepper at first, having a single minded goal in mind when it came to what they were supposed to do in this dream... then they paused midstep as the dream shifted ever so slightly and they were suddenly looking at Pepper, really looking at him.

"A demon... we should have known you had fallen that far, to ally yourself with such a creature." One of them hissed, eyes flashing dangerously.

"No! He has nothing to do with this, leave him alone!" Almas cried yanking on the chains but it only manages to hurt him more.

The angels started to move forward toward Pepper now, readying for battle... a demon in Heaven. It needed to be purged.

Pepper wasted no time in formalities he dashed forward lunging at the angel who had spoken to him. They were acting strangely the wraiths but they didn't care he wasn't going to let them have Almas. He claws sank into the first angel as he latched onto his thigh. He then began to bite into the angels side.

The angel took a stumbling step to the side before his fellow angel moved, lifting a foot and kicked it out, landing it against Pepper's side, "We will see you burn in Hell where you belong demon!" He snarled, moving to attack again. They were wraiths, nightmare creatures, but they seemed at least in this setting to be playing the part of the righteous... and poor Pepper was their enemy.

Pepper gave a grunt of pain as he was dislodged from the angel he had latched onto and sent sprawling he ...felt pain. Strange.. he never recalled feeling pain before but that just toughened his resolve. He wouldn't let them get at Almas...no..never. He hissed again. "Leave Luthor daddy alone!" he yowled before he went about charging towards the angel who had kicked him this time. Claws out as he went to pierce them into the mans calf.

"Luthor...? Is that another demon he is in league with?" The one with the first set of wounds demanded of Pepper as he reached out to grab him by one of his bone structures, yanking him off the other angel and gave him a throw, "How many demons is allied with?!"

Pepper was thrown against a wall he felt hs breath be knocked away from him his head spun....he coughed as he staggered back to his feet, "Almas Luthor daddy..you leave alone!" he shouted again as he relentlessly charged the angel again. "No hurt Almas! I HURT YOU!!" he screamed as he leapt into the wild like a wild cat and sprung at the angels chest latching onto him real well this time with his claws.

Almas was struggling to try to get to Pepper, those bastards! They would be so cruel to a child! He remembered now why he left this place. Things were to clean cut, to cold... everything black and white. The angels being the white that whipped out everything that was the black... he hated it here... the cruelty that came without a bat of an eyelash.
"Leave him alone..."

The angels were focused on Pepper completely, ignoring Almas's pleading and his struggles, he wasn't going anywhere. One of them reached out grab hold of Pepper once more, trying to yank him off the other who was taking a bit of damage now from the way the demon latched on.

Pepper gave a husky growl as he whipped his head to look at the one trying to dislodge him. "no!" he gave a shriek as he released one hand to make a swipe for the other angel but this only hampered him and caused him to loose his grip with his other. he fell to the ground with a thud, disorientated he took a moment to react.

Making a wild swing with a clawed hand he staggered back to his feet, if looks could kill his was getting pretty damn close to it.

The angels were forced to take a few steps back when the demon child started to lash out at them in a frenzied manner... before both moved in to attack at once, their feet kicking out at Pepper repeatedly. They meant to make him hurt... to punish him for his many crimes!

Pepper was really no match for full grown adults intent to kill. He was forced to the ground as he was pummeled with frightful kicks, something cracked he was having issues breathing. Soon he lay in a bloodied semi conscious heap on the ground. his breathing was ragged.

"No!" Almas cried out, his wrists torn and bloody now, "Stop it! Leave him alone hes just a baby! You heartless bastards, leave him alone!"

The angels paused for only a moment, looking over at Almas before one of them gave Pepper one last vicious kick, "Your right... we have a more important job now don't we?" He murmured, reaching down to pick up the tool he'd dropped.

"Yes, now that your little demon ally is taken care of its your turn, lets trim those wings up shall we?"

Pepper had never experienced such pain...sure when he had transformed it hurt..but that was nothing compared to what felt like numerous broken ribs and perhaps ruptured organs. As the wraiths went back to their business at hand Pepper found himself struggling to get up..he had to..they were going to hurt Almas. If he had been bigger they wouldn't of stood a chance...he gritted his teeth, these wraiths...he would make them pay for what they had done to him...for what they intended to do to Almas. His eyes glowed furiously a golden light as he took control of the dream without realizing it.

Suddenly he was up and standing the wounds were gone and now he was fully grown. Towering nearly seven and a half feet tall he grabbed each angel by the shoulder and roughly dragged them backwards.

The chained angels eyes went huge at the sight before him, the massive creature that was... "Pepper..." He whispered, quite shocked. He was even bigger this time then when he grew due to Luthor's power, larger and more intimidating... not to mention he looked as though he would do more then just chase these angels.

The angels were struggling in the demon's grasp, panic overtaking them as they lost
their hold on the Fallen's fever dream and were suddenly prey for something more dangerous then they were.

Pepper went into action quickly tossing one behind him as he quickly grabbed hold of the others head with his large hand. The claws peirced skin and dug into bone as he went about ripping the head off of those beautiful shoulders. He...was...not going to let them hurt anyone again...not him not Almas...no one. The sound of ripping tendon and snapping bone filled the air as he crudely tore the head off. He dropped the body promptly as he finished not even phased as he turned on his heel to search for the one he had tossed behind him.

The second of the two stood there, frozen in place as its companion was ripped in half... then turned to try to run, wanting to get anywhere but within arms reach of something that was able to kill them in a place like this. Dangerously strong... it had to escape.

He bounded after him, powerful long legs carried him forward it didn't take him long to overtake the angel /wraith creature and grabbing a wing he jerked it backwards."Reveal your true self nightmare!" He shouted the demand as he his claws dug into the others shoulder dragging him backwards. He had enough of this game. He knew what he was fighting wasn't a real angel..

The creature struggled and flailed in Pepper's grasping, wings fluttering in a pathetic manner though no matter what it tried there was no escape... it looked over its shoulder before the angelic guise melted away to show the true form. A weak sort of wraith, an opportunistic sort, preying upon the weak, the young, the sick... those that couldn't defend themselves in the dream realm for various reasons.

Pepper snarled as he then found his hands melting into the form, wraiths...were ghostly figures in their true form only really vulnerable in the guises they held in dreams. Still he seemed to be reaching for something inside of the wraith...his hand grasped something...a core of sorts he then crushed it.

The wraith fizzled out of existence and he was left alone..he turned around...and stalked back towards where Almas was standing, he looked...deep in thought. Not a usual expression he wore especially on a grown up version of a younger self. "Almas...you not hurt?" He inquired his voice was deep, gravely it could send shivers up someone spine.

The dream seemed to be breaking apart and Almas sank down to his knees, his beautiful form melted away as well leaving him as he really looked now... scarred and broken, his cheeks flushed from his fever. He lifted his gaze slowly only one eye able to focus on Pepper now, "I... don't think... so." He murmured, "Are you alright? Did they hurt you?" He knew he should be scared, that guise, that voice, it was terrifying but he felt to weak to feel fear, to weak to run... and this was Pepper, he cared for him and would care for him no matter his size.

Pepper shrugged his shoulders as if how he felt was of little consequence. "I fine." He replied before he looked around as the world shattered around them...like pieces of a backdrop that was breaking apart like glass and disappearing. He went to wrap and arm around Almas and helped him to his feet. he seemed...tense...and perhaps it was because of the familiar black voice was coming back..the wrath's would be back...more numerous than before...

"Must wake. Luthor need, wake now Almas." He said looking to the angel his golden eyes studying him anxiously.

"Huh...? Wake...?" He murmured, looking around in a confused manner. Dreaming? He was dreaming? His form started to lose its tangibility in the dream world now that he realized it wasn't real. And as he realized it and at Pepper's insistence he started to wake, "Wait... Pepper... what about you?" He couldn't leave him there, even if he looked big he was still a baby!

Pepper released Almas as he started to fade, he gave a wry smile that definitely reminded him of the younger toddler. "I come soon...the nightmares always come.." he stated though he felt more in control than before...and not nearly as helpless. "I be there soon." he concluded as he watched as Almas's form slipped away from the dream world.

*****

Almas opened his mouth to protest but was gone before he could, waking up on the floor... though he couldn't rise, he merely curled up around Pepper's form, his body still far to warm and trembling... but he couldn't fall back asleep now.

Pepper's body had on the other hand grown cold, his breathing barely audible he was in such a deep sleep it didn't look as if he was going to waken any time soon like he had claimed in the dream...just what was going on?

"You have to wake up..." He murmured to Pepper before struggling to figure out where his son had gone, though for the moment Luthor was no where in sight which made Almas's heart ache from fear of what had happened to him, "Luthor... where are you."

Lets play tag...and other games... Rp with Mareike. (keep in mind this occured before the last three rps before this whoops)