A/N:  So, it is technically Friday.  I mean 1 am Friday, but Friday nonetheless.  I can't sleep, and I was kind of afraid that I would either sleep in really late or that I would forget to update, like I promised.  So, I figured while I can't sleep I would go ahead and update.  Because why not.

3035 words

Posted 7/15/22

"Um, okay. Take care of it, how exactly?" Something tells me I am not going to like his answer.

And I was right. I didn't like it at all. Turns out the 7th circle of Hell, Tophet, which I know to be the home of intelligent abyssal fiends, is also the home to a Demon based fight ring. Maybe they didn't tell me because of the first rule of Fight Club. Maybe they didn't tell me for fear of how I would react. Like they thought I was going to raze the whole building. I definitely feel like I would attempt it right now. I can't help but hope the truth of the matter was that they simply forgot to tell me about it. That's also currently what each of them were claiming; I'm just frazzled and concerned that they might be simply telling me what I want to hear. So, after they delivered that news, I insisted they take me there as soon as I got cleaned up, because I wasn't about to wait around until he came back home bruised, bloody, and broken.

They gently told me when I was getting ready that I should probably glamour my eyes. "Your eyes are beautiful, Sweetheart." Seokjin preceded his suggestion early with a sweet compliment. "It's just that we don't think you should share that particular part of your identity outside of our home. If news got out that a true heir to the Spring Throne existed, well I don't know what would happen. I don't think it would be good though."

It was easy to agree with him. I understood without asking that my irises were rare, meaning true heirs were rare. But it also meant that in somehow/someway I was related to the person who currently held the throne. Whether I be that person's daughter or a cousin didn't really matter. In the long run it came down to the fact that I couldn't change my parentage, nor could I change how fate worked. That didn't mean I wanted to broadcast my potential fate to the world outside our doors. So, when it came to my glamour, I tried to still reflect myself in my irises by merging the cornflower blue and the color of the purple flowers together. My irises ended up looking periwinkle now in color, and while I was starting to accept my true irises once again I felt like this would be my staple glamour for my eyes from here on out.

I mentally groan as I come to terms with another negative point about this situation as we head out the door. We are going to have to go through a Gateway in Eisodoi to get there. They explained it was because this fight club is open to anyone who wants to participate, although it's usually outcasts and humanoids who are considering becoming demons like my mates did. It wasn't exactly the idea of going through Eisodoi that I had a problem with...

It's probably silly that what I am more bothered by is having to see the permanent resident of Eisodoi again. I dwell on the real reason it bothers me when our front door shuts behind us. I swear if Hope fucking flirts with any of my men I am going to punch her in the teeth.

When my mates turn around to look at me I realize that I didn't manage to keep that thought to myself. "Damn Buttercup, that was fucking hot!"

I can't help but blush at that. I was already a little overheated due to my anger at hearing about this fight club. Well, there was the whole horny thing too; that didn't exactly go away when I decided to not end my five year abstinence with Tae. "Well, I wasn't pleased with it the last time either."

Hoseok comes over to me. "Aww, was my Buttercup jelly?"

I glare at him. Then I walk around him to start heading toward the proper gateway. I frown when I realize that my mates are still frozen behind me. "Well come on. I'm not leading this expedition. After all, once we go through that gateway I won't know where the hell we are going!"

"Wait, so what happened the first time with Hope?!? I'm curious because I wasn't there!" Jungkook exclaims.

Seokjin shakes his head at my youngest mate and comes up beside me before saying. "Don't worry, Sweetheart. We shouldn't be in Eisodoi long."

"Yeah, the fight club Gateway is only about 100ft from our Gateway."(about 30 ½ meters) Yoongi attempts to reassure me.

Of course, that small distance doesn't seem to matter because the beautiful half Titan must sense us the minute we walk through the damn gate; we barely stepped five steps before she makes her appearance. I look over at Taehyung, Seokjin, and Yoongi. "Did she bother the three of you last week when you had to make your way Earthside?"

They simultaneously shake their heads in response. I turn back to Hope. "So you either came out to lord whatever you had in the past with Hoseok over me. Or you didn't have anything going on with Hoseok in the past, and you were hoping to change that."

She glares at me. "I don't know who you think you are. Hoseok doesn't belong to you. He doesn't do relationships."

I turn to arch an eyebrow at Hoseok. "You want to take this or shall I?"

He folds his arms over his chest and smirks at me in response. "Oh, I think I'll let you handle it, Buttercup."

I grin wickedly before turning back to address Hope. "So, you aren't going to have a sexual relationship with any of these men here. They are my fated mates." Her jaw literally drops. "Oh and that includes Namjoon if you were thinking of going after him instead." I move past her and start walking in the direction that we started moving in. I lift up my hand in farewell. "Bye Hope!"

"Well, at least I can expect you to call me by my proper name. Maybe you can get this Legion to start doing it as well." She says to my back.

I turn around and smile at her. "I may be their fated mate, but I can't really control what they do."

When she chooses to finally leave us in peace it takes us next to no time to reach the gateway. Which means had she left us alone Seokjin would have been correct. Seokjin, Yoongi, and Hoseok lead the way into the Gateway. I go in after them, Jimin, Taehyung, and Jungkook follow in after me. They wanted to keep me in the middle to cover my front and back.

I am a little surprised that the Gateway comes out directly in the foyer of the fight club. Above the main entrance are words I can't understand. "Tophet Zohnznar Ordizner?"

Seokjin turns back at me with a grin. "That wasn't a bad attempt, Sweetheart. Give the magic a moment to catch up. You should be able to read it in a second."

Now I see that it simply says, 'Tophet Fight Club.' I snort at the lack of originality, but I find myself saying. "Once again I feel like I am in an episode of Doctor Who. I swear that it works just like the translation matrix of the Tardis."

"I guess someday you will have to introduce us to the world of Doctor Who." Yoongi responds.

"I mean I am definitely up for watching all the episodes that River Song appears in again. Oh, and Blink. That's definitely a must see episode." I glance over at Jungkook. "Oh, but maybe Jungkook won't want to watch that one. Since he's scared of Nalvdrekt that look like grotesque bat gargoyles come to life he probably won't be a fan of vampiric looking angelic statues either."

Jungkook mumbles quietly, almost to himself. "I'm not scared of Nalvdrekt."

It only takes a few moments for me to remember once again why we are here, and I'm feeling like a hothead all over again. That is only made worse when the inhouse PA system announces that Namjoon is getting ready to fight. "He's been here a while. I wonder how many fights he's been in already." Taehyung mutters.

Jimin turns and glares at him. "Way to poke the bear."

Taehyung's eyes comically widen in alarm, and he looks around due to his immediate confusion. "What bear?"

I groan. "He means me. I'm the bear. I'm already annoyed and angry that he is here to begin with. I don't want to think about the fact that he has been in numerous fights, but now I also have that running through my mind." I'm tempted to turn to Tae to tell him that he isn't my favorite anymore, but that would just be childish and petty. Plus, I wouldn't actually mean it. I don't have a favorite, or perhaps it would be better to say they are all my favorite. However, Namjoon is most definitely in the dog house right now.

The humanoid selling tickets is fucking huge. I'm guessing he's probably a demon, but I know that's not necessarily the case. I go to get in line, but Yoongi pulls me away. "We don't pay."

"He means we don't have to pay. As Legion we have unlimited free passes." Jimin explains.

"Um, but wouldn't you still need to pay for a ticket for me?" I can't help but ask.

"No, we can bring in one guest." Jungkook explains.

I lower my voice and say. "Well, that's one positive at least. I didn't want to pay to attend this place anyway."

The bouncer who lets us in is even bigger than the other guy at the ticket counter. I'm quite thankful that he doesn't give us any trouble when Tae explains I'm their guest tonight.

I try not to look at the ring until they pull me to our seats. Which of course are reserved box seats near Namjoon's corner. Go figure. Jimin sits next to me and whispers. "Don't try to communicate with him telepathically. It won't work here. They disable certain magic to keep the contestants from cheating."

I nod my head, but I realize that means I have to just sit back and watch the carnage happen in front of me. Jungkook sits on my other side and takes my hand in his. "I realize it sucks that you can't broadcast your thoughts to him, but it's probably a good thing. You could unintentionally distract him."

I squeeze Jungkook's hand. "Thank you." After hearing that I am able to finally lift my head up.

The moment I look that direction I can't help but cringe at the large black metal cage that encompases the ring. Then I look at Namjoon. I expect his back to be to me since we are in his corner, but instead he's looking directly at me.

I cringe when his opponent rams his body into Namjoon while he is distracted. The guy is twice Namjoon's size, green, and mean looking. I have no clue what the fuck he is, but he looks like The Hulk's ugly sibling or something.

Namjoon gets up and retaliates, but when his opponent hits him again I have to look away. That's when I notice Jimin trying not to cringe. I frown and grab his hand with my free one. "Oh my God. Why didn't you tell me that your empathy would work here? I would have insisted that you stay home. You shouldn't have to subject yourself to all the emotions buzzing around."

"I wanted to be here to help support you. I honestly didn't think about the repercussions at the time. Now, I can't help but admit that I am regretting it." Jimin frowns.

"Seems bogus that empathic abilities would work while telepathic abilities wouldn't. I mean I get that they wouldn't be much help in the ring, and that's probably why they didn't think to turn that off. You shouldn't have to suffer though when they have the capability of turning it off." I sympathize with him, but I can't completely understand what he is going through since I am not an empath myself. I do wish I could help him though.

A few moments pass before he replies to me. "Mm. Ever, you know how I was talking about helping you learn your Spring Court abilities?"

I turn to look him in the eye and notice he isn't cringing like before. Then I look down and notice that my hand is glowing. "Um. What is that?"

"I'm not altogether sure actually. It's not something I am familiar with. I think it must be a spell similar to healing, but it is more like you are blocking the emotions around us." Jimin looks quite excited at this turn of events, and I most definitely get it. If I can do this for him at any time it would be very helpful indeed.

I let him know exactly what made the magic occur. "I just wished that I could help you, and it happened. Hopefully I can activate the ability again anytime you might direly need it.."

He smiles at me and nods in agreement.

Then, I turn back and watch as the guy Namjoon is fighting falls to the mat. The large referee in the ring counts him out, and Namjoon signals to me to follow him.

I let go of Jimin's hand and immediately he started wincing again. I lean in to give him a peck on his lips. "Go ahead and go home. I really don't want you to have to suffer any more."

"Oh to be a fly on the wall during their conversation." I happen to catch Hoseok muttering as I get up.

I turn around and give him the stink eye, or rather I try to. The problem is he looks at me all flirtatiously, and I nearly stumble instead. Luckily, Jungkook was there to catch me before I ended up falling on my nose or something.

Once I get by Namjoon's side he moves to grab my hand. I am tempted to pull it away, but I really don't want to cause a scene so I let him. He escorts me down a hallway, which I am assuming is taking me to some kind of locker room or something. Oh yay. Eau de dirty socks.

Luckily when we get there it doesn't smell quite like I expected. In fact, I'm also pleased and surprised to find we are the only ones back here. "It's a private locker room for Legion and higher. I happen to be the only high ranking Demon here tonight, so I get this locker room all to myself."

I arch an eyebrow. "I'm confused. Jimin told me that telepathic magic was one of the magics disabled within the building. How did you know what I was thinking?"

He gives me a cocky smirk that despite how angry I am I can't help but admit it is sexy as hell, and my anger melts away a little bit. I blame his sexy dimples.

"Sunshine, sometimes you are simply easy to read."

Sunshine? I feel like a kid with Pokémon cards the way I am suddenly collecting endearments. Gotta earn em all!

"So, why did I have to learn of this fight club tonight? Why didn't you tell me about it before?" I try to keep the anger from my voice, and I feel like I am able to at least halfway succeed.

"I think I put it in the back of my mind because I didn't want you to worry unnecessarily. I didn't expect to have such a huge problem dealing with the Wrath I am plagued with until our bi-yearly Hell week crops up a couple weeks from now." He pauses for a second to look me in the eye. "I would have definitely told you before then."

"Hell week?" I obviously don't know what that is.

He sighs. "Hoseok told me he mentioned our sins. I'm sorry I assumed you already knew about Hell week. Basically twice every year there is one week where each of us are essentially overpowered by our sins. On the good side, each of us only has to experience it for 24 hours, and none of us experience it at the same time. We each have our own day that week." He reaches out and cups my chin in his large hand so I can't help but look directly into his eyes. "There is no way I want you around me when Wrath takes its hold on me. I don't want to hurt you. I will come here instead when my Wrath takes over." He pauses for a second. "My Wrath doesn't usually take over like this often, so I shouldn't be coming here too often either."

Dammit. I can't stay mad at that logic. I turn to assess his wounds. Then without a second thought I concentrate on healing them one by one. It seems to take forever, and once I'm done I can't fight the grimace that appears on my face. "You are awfully sweaty." And covered in blood, I add silently to myself.

"I was about to get in the shower." He travels his gaze over my body. His tongue works its way between his lips, and I am sure the way he is licking them has nothing to do with a lack of moisture. "Would you like to join me?"

Would I like to join you?!?! Wait...Hold on a sec. First... "Only if your cock doesn't have special additions like Taehyung's does."

He chuckles darkly. "I promise, Sunshine. Everything is 100% normal. Well, I mean outside of the fact that Fae males tend to be well endowed that is."

Instead of answering him with words I lift my shirt up over my head. He completely loses his train of thought as he stops to stare at me. "I'm pretty sure you are going to want to take off your own clothes to get in the shower, Namjoon."

"Oh...yeah..."