It's always nice coming back home after being away for a bit.
Unfortunately, I was only here for a moment just to grab some things.
Stepping into the library, everything was right where it should be, not a single speck of dust to be seen. Understandably, because this place basically belonged to someone else.
I held my arms open, and Jinn threw herself into them with a big smile.
I don't think I'll ever get tired of how cool she feels to the touch. It was a pleasant difference compared to everyone else. It wasn't an offensive difference at all, but her body was just noticeably a tad cooler to the touch than everyone else's due to her nature.
And she made the best hugging pillow during the summer.
"Look at you, when was the last time you slept? Your hair is a mess too." I gave her a once-over. "You better be taking care of yourself."
She looked up at me, her nose scrunched, before sticking her tongue out. "You're one to talk! Besides, I don't need to sleep; I'm not tired."
I rolled my eyes and guided her to one of the couches in the library before holding my hand out. "Brush."
She took out her favorite brush and plopped it in my hand as she nestled onto the cushion next to me, back facing.
"Are you busy with anything right now?" I began to gently brush her hair.
I don't really know how it started, but I was doing it with Yasaka, and then it sort of just cascaded to everyone. They all seemed to like it when I brushed their hair sometimes.
"I was just making sure the house was all charged up." She relaxed, and I could all but feel the contentment radiate off her. "And organizing some new stuff I got."
It's easy to forget that she's actually the 'core' of the house, so to speak. Her existence is what 'charges' it and all its defenses and ties everything together.
Well, it's not like it really matters. The house remains 'charged' for long periods since it's never had to deploy its defenses yet. And hopefully, it won't have to in the future, but it's good to always be prepared.
Though I suppose the specific should be noted that it's tied to her lamp, albeit it's a specification that makes no difference in this case.
Regardless.
I kissed her cheek.
"Want to come with me then?" I continued to brush her hair. "I wanted help setting the house down in a new place. And I was going to ask Salem if she wanted a quick way to come over now. I think it's at the point where she would be more comfortable with it. And she technically has a 'job' now, which connects it all together."
Having Salem have a quick hop over from her castle, well, it sort of felt like asking her to move in with me.
I didn't want to rush anything like that. Salem had her own hang-ups, and I wanted to be careful and patient with them just as I was with everyone else.
"Sure!" She said happily. "Actually, I had been playing around with something. I have it in a drawer at my desk; it's a doorknob that basically does that—does what you did at Grandpa's home—and connects a door to the front door here. Though, I could only do everything up to you needing to use your own magic. The calculations should all be prepared."
"Smart girl." I playfully pulled her cheek. "I visited the Vale Royal Library while I was in Remnant."
I could see the corners of her eyes widen. "You did!? I love that library! It's my favorite in all of Remnant! I'll go with you next time to see it in person." She practically vibrated on the spot. "Do you think Ozpin would help me get a job as a librarian there? I could help so much with cataloguing everything. Oh, and there are so many little things that annoyed me that I can fix!"
"Do you feel ready to go back to Remnant?" I asked her.
She suddenly went quiet before letting out a hum. "I was scared for a while. I visited Salem a few times…."
I stopped brushing her hair and instead wrapped my arms around her. "You know I will never abandon you, right? You're mine, now and forever. Not even your Brother Gods can change that."
She relaxed a little bit, giving me a warm smile as she turned her head. "I know. You would beat them up, right?"
"Of course." I puffed up my chest.
"You know they're my parents, right?" She said with a little amused twinkle in her eye. "You're going to beat up my parents?"
"What's a little fist throwing between family?" I chuckled.
"I was just being facetious. Honestly, I don't care what they think anymore. They didn't care about me one bit when they made me." She pouted cutely. "But I'd love for you to meet my brother. The Relic of Creation, Ambrosius. He's the only one out of the other three like me, as you know. Having a spirit and all that."
"You mentioned him before." I went back to brushing her hair. "You said he's being used to keep Atlas City suspended in the air?"
She nodded. "Yup! Ozpin and his team were smart about that! Ambrosius also likes when people use him creatively, so he gave them a little help there. Don't tell anyone, but he cheats a tiny bit if they use him to do interesting things."
"Do you think he'd like to leave too?"
Jinn thought about it for only a brief moment before shaking her head. "Even if he's a cheater and stretches the rules, he's too boring to want to do that. I don't think he really cares about our creators, but he still treats his job as his duty."
Well, if that's his choice, then so be it. "At the very least, we can go see him and visit whenever you want. I'm on…decent terms with Ozpin and his cohort at this point. So I doubt they would raise an objection."
Though, they didn't know about Jinn.
That's going to be awkward.
Awkwarder.
Hey Ozpin, you know how I'm banging your ex-wife? Well, I'm also banging the Spirit of Knowledge that you kept locked away that I may or may not have stolen.
"I told Pyrrha I would get everyone to come cheer her on for the Vytal Festival."
Jinn turned around mid-brush with the biggest smile on her face. "The Vytal Festival! Yes! I want to go see it too!" She threw her arms around me excitedly. "It'll be great; I can show everyone my home!"
"I'm sure everyone will love it." It should be a fun little vacation for everyone too. Not all of them had even been to Remnant before. "Come on, let's go bother Salem."
She all but shot to her feet. "What all do you need to bring?"
[Line Break]
Salem's castle was Salem's castle.
I would be surprised if there were any changes over the course of a century, let alone days, weeks, or months.
Still, I walked in like I owned the place.
There wasn't really anyone to stop me?
I knew that a few people were 'living' here, mostly Salem's subordinates. But at this point, I'm fairly sure they knew who I was and my relationship with Salem.
I think they mostly stayed out of my way on purpose. I know Salem can be…intense, so they may be intimidated by association and not want to accidentally do something that may make me angry? At least, according to the logic from their minds, if they did something to 'anger' me, it may be even worse than if they angered Salem.
Or one of the many other infinite reasons, who knows.
Jinn all but skipped down the hall, seeing as we just popped right into the middle of her castle.
She should be aware we're here by now, considering Squidward came floating over.
Jinn patted its squishy head like a drum, but the Grimm didn't seem to mind or even notice. It simply turned around as if leading us, and it was towards Salem's room.
"Salem~" Jinn knocked, calling out to her before the door opened and she stood at the threshold.
She shot a look at Jinn and then at me with a strange expression on her face. Well, it was her normal vacant look, the one that came from years of not outwardly expressing emotion. But there was something just ever so slightly off.
"Salem's room!" Jinn ran inside and jumped onto Salem's bed with a belly flop.
Salem looked like she wanted to sigh at Jinn's antics, but she willingly put up with them.
"To what do I owe the sudden intrusion?" She drawled, looking at Jinn sprawled out on her bed.
"We were going over to see Coulson and set the house up over there." I took Salem's hand, looking at her. "But before all that, what's wrong?"
Salem frowned. "Nothing is wrong."
Jinn looked up curiously, furrowing her brow. Jinn was good at most things, but when it came to reading people, I think I was still better than her despite the wide breadth of knowledge crammed in her head.
"Is it about the thing you talked about before?" I asked. "From after the train?"
"I don't want to talk about it right now." She pulled her hand away.
"That's fine. But I'm always here when you're ready." Despite her attitude, I knew she wasn't intentionally being distant out of malice.
Salem crossed her arms, but her expression shifted. I think she genuinely appreciated me not pushing her on it. "I could use a distraction as well."
"I can do a distraction!" Jinn perked up. "How about sex?"
Salem's pale face flushed a little as she quickly got flustered, probably by the combination of surprise and sheer bluntness. "Is your mind filled with nothing but lewd thoughts!?" She grabbed something off her dress and threw it at Jinn.
Jinn giggled, dodging it as she rolled off the bed.
"Let's see what Salem has in here~." Jinn opened up the top drawer of her dresser. "Ooooh~ this is new." She held up a very tiny thong.
Salem's eyes widened, and her already faint flush grew redder. "Get out of my undergarments!"
"This is definitely new because I don't remember you having something this small. I don't know if it would even fit around your fat ass." She stretched it with her fingers.
Salem let out a rather indignant cry, clearly not used to being so openly teased like this.
Jinn just stared at her with a mischievous expression, then put it around her legs and pulled it up under her dress. "That's a snug fit." She playfully smacked her own butt. "But it's keeping my lamp from falling out."
"Y-you!" Salem raised her finger, pointing at her, seemingly having trouble finding the right words before turning to me. "This is your fault! You corrupted her into some deviant!"
I did, didn't I?
"Don't be proud about it!" She poked my chest with a huff before turning back to Jinn. "And give me my panties back!"
"You can take them back if you want." Jinn held her arms open.
Salem scowled with another huff before turning away.
Credit where it was due.
Jinn definitely helped distract Salem from her previous melancholy. Though, it was quickly replaced by indignation and exasperation.
I kissed her cheek, which seemed to placate her slightly.
Jinn does so love to annoy Salem.
[Line Break]
I opened a portal where Salem told me, and we stepped out into a decently large office.
But it seemed empty?
Or 'unlived' in, as it were.
"Is this your office, Salem?" I asked curiously.
Salem just let out a short grunt. "They seemed insistent on giving me one when I said I would appear and disappear periodically. As they said, it would be appreciated if I did so within my 'office' rather than out in the open."
Makes sense.
Well, I was going to get her up on her desk with her dress off at some point; that was for sure.
Salem went behind her desk, taking her seat. She looked at her phone setup for a few moments before slowly pressing a button on it.
Quickly it rang, and a familiar voice picked up. "Miss Salem? I assume you have returned."
"That is correct," Salem said plainly. "With… Company."
"Hey Coulson." I greeted him too.
"Mr. Schweinorg," he returned. "I'm in the building; I'll head on over." The call ended just as quickly.
"This is weird, seeing Salem with a job and a desk…" Jinn looked around, poking at things, empty drawers, and empty storage space.
"I do not have a job." Salem scowled. "I…offer my expertise out of pity."
Truthfully, I think she likes that they come seeking her expertise and it gives her a sense of pride. She doesn't really get to use her magical prowess back on Remnant beyond her little corner of the world.
Here? They seek her out, need her help, and let her show off her years and years of study and research.
It didn't take long for someone to come over, a polite knock on the door before it opened.
"Good evening." Agent Coulson greeted us. He looked around, then his eyes landed on Jinn. "And someone I don't recognize.
Jinn shot to her feet; her mischievousness seemed to disappear as she looked much more kept and polite. "You must be Agent Coulson. Wilhelm mentioned you. I'm sorry for dropping in without announcing myself. I'm Jinn, Goddess of Magic, Knowledge, and the Homestead." She held her hand out.
He blinked once before taking her hand. "Agent Phil Coulson, welcome to Shield."
He took it in stride, though, admittedly, Jinn did seem amused by his lack of reaction at her 'status.'
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Jinn." He returned the polite tone. "I apologize; I wasn't expecting you, or I would have prepared better accommodations."
"Oh, it's alright; I'm not one for all that sort of nonsense. I haven't even been a goddess very long, so I don't have all that built-up arrogance." She giggled, waving it off. "Besides, I dropped in rudely."
"Sorry for not telling you beforehand. I didn't realize I was coming with Salem right into an office in the middle of your headquarters." I said as well.
Salem seemed unfazed and uncaring, but I understood that it might grind a bit on their secret agency sensibilities.
"Let's just chalk it up to miscommunication." Coulson smiled. "We hadn't even had the new Magical division up and running yet, so we have not yet established protocols. However, I'm glad you've arrived. We found a good place to set up for the new subdivision. An old manor in the upstate."
That was for both Salem and myself, especially if she were going to be 'working' out from it from now on when she felt like it.
"It's currently being refurbished, but it should be prepared soon." He added.
I nodded. "We'll happily take a look at it and see if we can't do anything to help. If it's going to be a Magic Division under your organization, it's going to need various magical defenses."
A manor, huh?
I'm sure Salem will appreciate that kind of setup more than random government building #75587 or whatever they would have normally done in a more mundane situation.
I clapped my hands. "So, it's not just a social call that I dropped in for; I have a few things I need to talk about if you don't mind."
"I have free time." He said casually.
"First, um…well, I suppose I should ask for proper government ID? Did you finish that cup?"
"I'll have it sent over in a few minutes."
Easy.
"Second—" I paused to consider how to word this. "I need a spot to…erm, set my house down?"
He raised an eyebrow. "Your choice of words is…specific. I presume you don't mean to buy a house or have one built."
"Quite literally set a house down in an empty space. It's superimposed in various places, existing at different points simultaneously." I gave a very brief description of how it existed. "It'll make it easier for you to reach me too."
Coulson seemed utterly unfazed. "An easy enough request."
I'm sure they would also appreciate being able to 'keep track' of me easier? Having an actual 'location' to designate my home would be enough of a benefit that they wouldn't even ask me to pay any money.
"Jinn here is going to help me with the logistics of that." I gestured to her as she gave a little wave.
"I appreciate you keeping me in the loop." Coulson replied. "Is there anything else? I also have something I would like your expertise with."
"Yes, but…tell me what you need first." I leaned against the desk. "Considering how much I'm taking advantage of you, I'd be more than happy to help with anything."
Far be it for me to keep throwing things onto his lap without offering to help him with anything he needs. I'm in no rush; I can bring up the other stuff after I lend him a hand.
Salem also looked on curiously.
She was here to get her mind off other things, so anything that needs her assistance, she would probably welcome right about now.
"We, of course, have a few more recruits that we would like both your assessments on. But other than that, we've run into a…situation."
"Weird or dangerous?" I asked.
"The first, possibly the second." He replied. "While we were trying to recruit a gentleman, or at least make him an offer, I believe one of our men got…. possessed."
"Possessed," I repeat. "By what exactly?" Off the top of my head, I can think of ten different things that can technically possess someone.
"...we think a demon?" Coulson didn't sound too sure. "So, you can understand my coming to you in particular for assistance."
Right.
He wasn't oblivious to the fact that Thor kept calling me a demon all that time.
And basically, everything that followed.
I suppose I would technically be uniquely qualified here? Which is probably why he's directing it towards me rather than the 'staff,' which would be Salem.
"I'm intrigued," I admitted. "I would be happy to help as well."
I've never dealt with a possession before!
[Line Break]
A/N
Stepping over to MCU for a bit before returning to DxD for rating game and a couple other things, then we'll do the new world.
If you want to read 10 chapters ahead or support me, visit my p.a.t.r.e.o.n.c.o.m. / astoryforone
I also have a boosty if you can't use the above under the same name